Odisha police gear up to enforce complete shutdown in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak

BHUBANESWAR: Police personnel have fanned across the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as well as Bhadrak town to ensure proper enforcement of complete shutdown from Friday 8 pm to Sunday 8 pm to prevent community spread of coronavirus. Violators will not only face legal action, but also be quarantined for 14 days in places away from their homes.
Odisha so far recorded six Covid-19 positive cases out of which two persons have completely recovered.Though the state-wide lockdown has been in force for past several days, the decision to clamp complete shutdown in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak was taken following overall detection four positive cases in Bhubaneswar and one each in Cuttack and Bhadrak so far.
“It is a curfew-like situation in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack cities and Bhadrak town. Those, who defy, will face action according to the law. We request everyone to cooperate with the government in containing the spread of Covid-19,” state director general of police Abhay said.
Sources said at least 45 platoons of police force have been mobilized in Bhubaneswar, 35 platoons in Cuttack and 10 platoons of force stationed in Bhadrak town. Police have identified vacant schools, colleges, guesthouses and other shelter homes to detain the violators on 14-day quarantine.
“According to the government’s order we will enforce complete closure of grocery, vegetable, milk shops and stores selling other essential commodities during the 48 hours in the three places. Only a few medicine stores will be allowed to operate. Hospitals will remain open to attend to emergency cases only. Hospitals have been advised to close their OPDs,” Abhay said.
The state government has advised all hospitals and clinics to strengthen tele-medicine support. “We have increased the fleet of government and private ambulances. All patients with scheduled dialysis or any other urgent medical procedure will be allowed to visit hospitals by ambulances,” Abhay said.
Additional commissioner of police Anup Kumar Sahoo said passes earlier issued to healthcare professionals during the lockdown period would remain valid for the 48-hour complete shutdown, whereas the passes issued to other emergency service providers during the lockdown were withdrawn. “We have also requested media houses to limit their staff on fields. Very limited passes will be issued to media personnel to operate during the complete shutdown. Movement of goods vehicles and other emergency services like police stations, fire stations, ambulance service and petrol stations will remain unaffected,” Sahoo said.
Bhadrak superintendent of police Rajesh Pandit said all banks, financial institutions and ATMs will remain closed in Bhadrak town. “Those found moving in violation of the order during the shutdown period will be detained and sent to institutional quarantine centres for 14 days. We have identified some schools as institutional quarantine centre. People in distress should dial 100 for help,” Pandit said.