Shutdown To Be Lifted From Tomorrow, Extended Night Curfew In Cuttack City

Cuttack: The shutdown clamped in the Cuttack city will be lifted from Monday, said the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on Sunday. However, weekend shutdown will remain in force in the city.

The CMC has listed out the following permitted and prohibited activities during the lockdown period till July 31.

Permitted Activities

—All shops whether wholesale or retail, are allowed to operate between 5 am to 6 pm. However, this time restriction is not applicable to medicine shops.

Night curfew will be in force from 7 pm to 5 am.

—Inter-district movement of individuals for medical reasons or for activities as permitted by the competent authority.

—Petrol pumps/gas agencies/telecom services are allowed to be functional with strict adherence to COVID-19 norms.

—All government offices will operate with 50% of the employee strength as per the order of the General Administration & Public Grievances Department.

—All restaurants/hoteIs are allowed to open with parcel/take away facility only.

—Shopping malls are allowed to open subject to an undertaking for adherence to social distancing and norms of Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Measures.

Prohibited Activities

—All schools, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions will remain closed. However, online/distance learning is permitted.

—Hospitality services other than those used for housing health/police/government officials/healthcare workers, stranded persons, including tourists and quarantine facilities.

—All cinema halls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.

—All social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions/other gatherings.
However, marriage with a maximum of 50 people and funeral with a maximum of 20 people will be allowed based on prior permission.

—All religious places/places of worship will be closed for the public. Religious congregation in any number is strictly prohibited.

—All shops and establishments must ensure social distancing and use of masks by staff, failing which penal action will be taken against them.

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, will stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes, as per the national directives.

Vehicular Movement
Movement of vehicles is allowed subject to the following conditions:

—Taxis and cab aggregators, with one driver and two passengers only, four wheeler vehicles will have a maximum of two passengers besides the driver.

—Railways/inter-state and inter-district buses are allowed to function. However, people are advised to avoid travel for non-essential purposes.

Penal Provisions
Any person violating the lockdown rules and the National Directives for COVID-19 Management will be liable for prosecution as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under section 188 of the IPC the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and other legal provisions as applicable.