Bhubaneswar: While extending the partial lockdown till July 16, the Odisha government on Wednesday relaxed some curbs to take the pressure off livelihood sources.
All shops will be allowed to open in ten coastal districts – Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Balasore, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada – from 6 am – 2 pm.
In the remaining 20 districts, the timing for opening the shops has been extended till 6 pm.
These districts are Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar. There will be no weekend shutdown in these districts and the government has also allowed outdoor and indoor shooting with strict adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour. Buses and taxis will also ply in these 20 districts.
In the 10 coastal districts, there will be no public transport and weekend shutdown will continue.
THE RESTRICTIONS
>> Night curfew will remain in force from 6 pm to 6 am across Odisha
>> All educational, training, coaching institutions will remain shut in the entire state
>> Jatra/ opera/ open air theatres will not be allowed to operate
>> All cinema halls, multiplexes, gymnasiums, park/ entertainment park/ amusement park/ theme park/ water park/ indoor amusement centres, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls, merry-go-round (Doli)/ Meena Bazaar and related activities and similar places will remain closed
>> A strict no to social, religious or political congregations
>> Exhibitions/ trade fairs/ melas/ physical Business-to-Business meetings are prohibited
>> Marriages will be permitted, with approval from local authorities, with not more than 25 persons and in case of thread ceremony, funerals and last rites, the number of persons participating will not be more than 20 (for the entire event) including hosts, guests, priests and catering and other support staff with adherence of COVID-19 safety protocols
>> Shopping malls, spas and beauty parlours will remain closed and so also government & private swimming pools