ODISHA GOVT. HAS DECIDED TO KEEP THE LOCKDOWN TILL 30TH JUNE
Bureau,Odishabarta
BHUBANESWAR: With a view to containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Odisha Government has decided to keep the lockdown in force till 30th June 2020. This was announced by Chief Secretary Sri Asit Tripathy in a press briefing from Geet Govind Sadan on Monday.
Sri Tripathy said,” “Government is systematically trying to balance life and livelihood in this unprecedented crisis situation. Hon’ble Chief Minister has said that the month of June is very crucial for us in the containment of the COVID. Because of systematic efforts, the State is now in a better situation; and, we cannot let down our efforts”.
Joining the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police Sri Abhaya said, “Government has given relaxation for livelihood, not recreation. The lockdown rules will be strictly enforced up to 30th June. Till now police focused on awareness building, and, henceforth the stringent measures like arrest, case lodging, fine collection, etc will be done”.
Outlining the restrictions and relaxations for the current phase of lockdown, Chief Secretary Sri Tripathy said;
Like the previous phase, the lockdown will remain in force in containment zones till 30th June. Containment Zones will be demarcated by the respective Collectors and Municipal Commissioners as per the guidelines of the Health & Family Welfare Department. Only essential service activities will be allowed in containment zones. There shall be intensive contact tracing, house to house surveillance, and other clinical interventions as per the requirement.
The establishments like religious places, places for public worship, shopping malls, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theaters, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls, and similar places will remain closed. The educational institutions/ training and coaching centers will remain closed till 31 July.
The Hotels will be allowed to operate up to 30% of staying capacity. Restaurant service will be open only for in-house guests. However, restaurants can operate their kitchen for home delivery and takeaways of food.
The directives like ‘Mask wearing’, ‘social distancing’ of 6 feet, and prohibition of spitting in public places will be strictly enforced. Shops will ensure social distancing and will not allow more than 2 to 5 persons at one time, depending on the size of the shop. Salons, Spas, Beauty Parlours and Barbershops shall ensure all safety precautions, disinfection, and sanitization before and after service of each customer. All public gatherings and congregations of more than 7 persons are prohibited. In Marriages, the number of guests will be within 50. In funeral rites, the number of persons is limited to 20.
The Inter-State vehicles for the movement of persons and goods will require no permission or approval. The vehicles moving within the State have to strictly comply with the norms regarding sitting capacity mentioned in the registration certificate.
The Night Curfew shall remain in force from 7.00 PM to 5.00 AM. throughout the State. During the night curfew, the essential services, staff of IT & TEs companies with identity cards, all industrial units, construction activities, and movement vehicles, and taxis to and from railway stations, airports, and bus terminals will be free of restrictions.
Further, Chief Secretary Tripathy added that in the interest of the public health, two-days weekend shutdown for all Saturdays and Sundays shall be imposed in eleven districts namely Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Bolangir till 30th June 2020. During this shutdown, only the essential services, petrol pumps, telecom services, electronic media persons, road transport on highways, movement of public transport to and from railway stations, airports and bus terminals, service sector industries, industrial establishments, and construction activities will be permitted.
Outlining the quarantine policy Sri Tripathy said, “ In rural areas, the returnees will undergo seven days of mandatory institutional quarantine and further seven days of home quarantine if they are asymptomatic. If any quarantine develops symptoms, he/she will be shifted to the COVID care center and COVID hospital as per the guideline. In urban areas, the returnees have to undergo a compulsory period of 14 days home quarantine. The professionals, businessmen, and Government officials travelling to and from Odisha with a schedule of 72 hours will be exempted from quarantine.
Chief Secretary Tripathy advised the old persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below 10 years to stay indoors except for essential medical purposes.
Chief Secretary also warned that these guidelines will be strictly enforced; and any person violating the norms will be proceeded against as per Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act and Section-188 of Indian Penal Code.
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