Bhubaneswar: Odisha has enforced stricter restrictions with COVID-19 cases spiralling in the last few days.
COVID test is now mandatory for flyers deboarding at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, irrespective of whether if they have been fully vaccinated or are in possession of an RT-PCR negative certificate. The night curfew has been extended by an hour and will now be imposed from 9m pm to 5 am till the end of January.
While social and religious gatherings have been prohibited, political, sports and academic functions have been allowed with a ceiling of 100 persons and a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity in closed spaces.
There should be no large gatherings or congregations.
Weddings will get thinner as the government has capped the attendees at 100, including hosts, guests, priests and catering and other support staff. This also applies to thread ceremonies.
Marriage processions are allowed with the ceiling of 30 participants and prior approval from competent authorities.
Funerals and last rites related gatherings have been allowed with a maximum of 50 persons. No outside guest is allowed to participate in such associated functions like haldi and mehendi.
All official meetings and training have been allowed with a ceiling of 100 persons while programmes like the inauguration, laying of the foundation stone can be organised with a maximum of 50 participants.
Similarly, cultural gatherings, programmes, including melodies, orchestra, jatra, opera, dances-classical, folk and other permitted dance forms, cultural competitions, open-air theatres, drama, nukkad natak, street plays/other such performances have been allowed in the open. Open-air theatres, jatras and operas will be permitted by the local authorities.
Auditoriums, assembly halls, similar facilities will also be allowed to open up to 50 per cent of capacity and so also cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes with due compliance to COVID protocols.
People having a vaccination (two doses) certificate or COVID negative report obtained within 72 hours are allowed to attend events, official programmes and for entry into cinema halls, theatres in halls/closed places/marriages and cultural functions to be held in indoor halls.
Organisers have been directed to go for online booking and open sufficient number of counters to prevent crowding during physical booking of tickets. Advance booking online as well as through counters may also be organised.
Exhibitions, trade fairs, expo, melas are banned. Physical business to business meetings are prohibited. However, such activities may be taken up in virtual mode, a release issued by the office of Special Relief Commissioner said.
Religious rituals in temples, churches, mosques, places of worship will be permitted with limited number of priests and staff adhering to COVID safety protocols. With regards to the entry of devotees, local authorities – district magistrate or municipal commissioner – can impose further restrictions on the basis of the prevailing situation in the district and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, it added.
