Odisha Walks Life & Livelihood Tightrope, Relaxes Lockdown Restrictions In 20 Districts

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday extended the COVID partial lockdown by 15 more days till July 16.

The ongoing restrictions will end at 5 am on Thursday.

Briefing the media, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said that all shops will be allowed to remain open from 6 am to 2 pm by adhering to COVID protocol in 10 coastal districts with a high test positivity rate (TPR).

The weekend shutdown will continue in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Balasore, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada. Bus transport will not be allowed in these districts and the restrictions on malls, cinema halls and jatras will continue, he said.

Standalone barbershops will remain to open during this period, he said, adding that only outdoor shooting will be allowed with strict adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour.

Mohapatra said that there will be no weekly shutdowns in 20 Category A districts with a TPR of less than 5 per cent. “Shops will open from 6 am to 6 pm in these districts,” he said.

The districts are Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar.

The restrictions on shopping malls, spas and beauty parlours, however, will continue.

The Chief Secretary said that the weekly haat and daily markets will resume in these districts. “The collectors and municipal commissioners have been asked to ensure that the vendors maintain social distancing and abide by the COVID guidelines,” he said.

“Bus transport will be allowed in the category A districts but under strict adherence to COVID protocols. Buses will be allowed to pick up passengers up to seating capacity only. Taxis and autos can carry a maximum of two persons apart from the driver,” the Chief Secretary said.

Outdoor and indoor film shooting will be allowed in these districts. Street food vendors can deliver takeaway orders.

“Night curfew will remain in force from 6 pm to 6 am across Odisha. People and services exempted under essential categories will be allowed to move during the restricted hours,” he said.

The restrictions on weddings and funerals, besides trade fairs, exhibitions, jatra and cinema halls, will continue as before, he said, adding that education and religious institutions will remain shut.