Bhubaneswar: To discourage large gatherings amid the COVID surge, the Odisha government has decided to allow only police contingent to participate in Republic Day celebrations this year.
“In view of the initial signs of a surge in cases of COVID-19, as well as increased detection of the variant of concern, ‘Omicron’, Government of Odisha have discouraged large gatherings and prescribed other preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease,” an official notification said.
Check the change in the usual schedule:
• The National Flag shall be unfurled by the Chief Guest after 8.30 am (name of the Chief guest to be intimated separately by Home Department) followed by playing of the National Anthem.
• Only police contingents shall participate in the ceremony.
• There will be no participation from students /NCC Cadets
• There will be no participation by the general public in the celebration. Only limited number of guests may be invited to the celebration, using e-invites, including selected Covid warriors (doctors, health workers and sanitation workers).
• It is imperative that, social distancing norms, wearing masks, are followed strictly by those attending the function. The venue must be well sanitised and a hand sanitiser is made available at all entry po.ts of the celebration venue.
Notably, Odisha witnessed the biggest single-day spike of 7071 new COVID cases on Tuesday since June last year.
The Republic Day was a low-key affair last year with the government discouraging large gatherings and the participation of the general public or school students in events in view of the prevailing pandemic situation.
