Odisha Govt Declares 14-Day Lockdown To Break COVID Chain; Strict Curbs On These Activities

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Sunday announced a two-week lockdown in the state from Wednesday (May 5) morning to break the COVID-19 infection chain.

During this period, people can walk 500 metres between 7 am and 12 pm to buy vegetables. There are no restrictions on healthcare or other emergency services.

According to the notification issued by the office of the Special Relief Commissioner, the lockdown will remain in force till 5 am on May 19.

However, there will be complete shutdown on weekends, starting 6 pm on Fridays till 5 am on Mondays.

The lockdown is primarily aimed at restricting the movement of people and will not be applicable for election-related works, movement of goods and goods carriers, the notification said.

The following activities are prohibited during the lockdown:

i. Buses for public transport.

ii. Intra-state movement of individuals by road, except for medical reasons or for activities permitted under these guidelines.

iii. All educational, training, coaching institutions, except as allowed by government. However, physical conduct of examinations by state/national/ international bodies shall be allowed on a case to case basis by the respective departments with due intimation to all concerned authorities.

iv. Exhibitions/Trade Fairs/Melas/physical Business-to-Business meetings are prohibited. However, such activities may be taken up in virtual mode.

v. Taxis (including auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws) and services of cab aggregators (except in some specified cases).

vi. All cinema halls, malls, market complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, parks, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls, Merry-go-round (Doli)/Meena Bazaar and related activities and similar places.

vii. Jatra/opera/open air theatres shall not be allowed to operate.

viii. All salons/barbershop, spa, beauty parlour will remain closed.

ix. All social/political/sports/ entertainment/ academic/cultural/ religious functions/other gathering

x. All religious places/places of worship shall be closed for public. However religious rituals are allowed with bare minimum servitors. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.

xi. Marriages shall be permitted with approval from local authorities and with not more than 50 people and in case of funeral and last rites, people participating shall not be more than 20.