COVID19 GUIDELINES WITH FEW RELAXATION IN ESSENTIALS AND NON- ESSENTIALS IN SUNDERGARH

Rajesh Mohapatra,Odishabarta

ROURKELA: Now as per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Health & Family Welfare Department,  Sundergarh is kept in Orange Zone. Hence, following the order of Revenue a& Disaster Management Department(Management) Act-2005 of Govt. of Odisha, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, the District Magistrate of Sundergarh has issued a new guidelines  for the ongoing lockdown-phase-3 for adherence by general public.

The guideline says in Containment Zone and Buffer zone the restrictions will remain as it was before. But new guidelines have eased the norms in many disciplines but a strong advice is also there to maintain social distancing (6feet) and covering up face with mask or other means to protect infections.

 All the industrial activities in rural areas are allowed. Constriction activities are now allowed in rural and urban areas. All shops selling essential items on standalone basis are permitted to open between 7am to 7pm. Private offices are allowed to open with central and state Govt. offices. Movement of goods/cargo (inter-state, inter-district and intra-district) are allowed. Financial institutions including, banks, insurance companies and ATMs are allowed. Activities in Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Plantation and Allied Activities are allowed. MGNREGA, irrigation, water conservation, water supply and other related works are allowed.

Most importantly Cycle-Rickshaw and Auto-Rickshaw are allowed which will help in transportation mode and livelihood simultaneously. Taxis and cabs aggregators like OLA, UBER services are allowed with a restriction of one driver and two passengers. Mostly sought, barber-shops, spa and saloon are allowed. The key things for individual vehicles for inter-district are allowed and for this activity no passes are required. For two wheeler rider, pillion riders are allowed to travel intra-district. Vegetable markets which were allowed previously on all week days is now being restricted for 3 days (Sunday, Wednesday and Friday) along with non-veg items from 7am to 2pm. Takeaway and home delivery from hotel and Restaurants are allowed from 7am to 9.30pm but adhering to social distancing and special instruction for delivery boys to wear mask and using hand –gloves. Hospitality services used for Housing Health/ Police/Govt. officials/ Healthcare workers/Stranded persons or used for quarantine facilities are allowed. A fine is fixed at Rs200./- for not using mask. Other restrictions which were there earlier ate continuing, a ban on liquor shops, plying busses, schools, colleges, education institutions including coaching centers (online education is allowed), organizing social, political events, academic, cultural, religious and other gatherings are banned. Worshipping in religious places and religious congregations are strictly prohibited. Hotels and restaurants are not allowed to serve food in sitting arrangements. More importantly non-essential travels is allowed between 7am to 7pm

These guidelines are being served for entire district including Rourkela Municipal corporation area but excluding notified Containment zones and Buffer zones.