Covid: Odisha announces 14-day lockdown from May 5

BHUBANESWAR: Exponential surge in Covid-19 positive cases has prompted the Odisha government to impose a 2-week lockdown from May 5 till 19 across the state. During the pandemic’s second wave, the state reported at least 55,165 positive cases in the last seven days with the overall average test positivity report hovering between 16% and 20% and over 40% in a few western Odisha districts, bordering Chhattisgarh.
“The situation is extremely alarming. Nobody knows where the second wave will take us to, though we are fully prepared to meet any exigency. In the last one week alone, active Covid cases have gone up by 50,000 in Odisha. The lockdown is primarily aimed at restricting the movement of persons,” chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said.
Mahapatra said the ongoing weekend shutdown on Saturdays and Sundays across the state would continue to remain in force. Earlier, Odisha had imposed night curfew in 10 districts—Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri—between 6 pm and 5 am from April 5. Later the night curfew was extended to the urban areas of the remaining 20 districts between 9 pm and 5 am from April 17. The government also imposed weekend shutdown in those 10 districts from April 17. After a few days the government announced weekend shutdown in the urban areas across the state from April 24 to contain the spread of Covid infection.
During the lockdown, the government will allow smooth functioning of the Covid vaccination and testing centres across the state. Operation of the essential and emergency activities, including health services, financial sector, public utilities and some selected commercial services will remain unaffected. For the convenience of people, the government has permitted roadside standalone shops selling food and other essential commodities, vegetables, grocery, fish, meat, eggs and milk to operate only between Monday and Friday from 6 am to 12 pm during the lockdown. Such shops would remain closed during weekend shutdown.
Hospitals, nursing homes, medicine stores and other medical-related activities would not be prohibited during lockdown and weekend shutdown. Keeping in mind the Pipili bypoll on May 16, the government has decided to allow election-related works during the lockdown and weekend shutdown.
All religious places, public transport, all educational, training, coaching institutes except those allowed by the government would be shut during the lockdown. The government has also banned activities at all cinema halls, gyms, malls, market complexes, sports complexes, swimming pools, parks, bars, jatra, opera and open air theatres. Salon, spa and beauty parlours would remain closed during the lockdown. All religious, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions would remain suspended during the lockdown.
Restaurants and eateries have been permitted to offer only home delivery and takeaway services. To ensure that the livelihood and economic activities are not affected during the lockdown, the government has decided to allow all agricultural and horticultural activities, fisheries, plantations, animal husbandry, industries and industrial establishments and construction activities in the state.