Unlock 1: Odisha's 11 Worst-Hit Districts To Remain Under Lockdown During Weekends; Malls, Religious Places To Remain Shut

Offices, commercial establishments, bus services, local transports and non-essential services will remain closed during the shutdown period.

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New Delhi: While most of the states have announced relaxations in Unlock 1, Odisha government on the other hand has decided to be strict than the MHA to curb the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the state. The Naveen Patnaik government has announced a complete shutdown on weekends all through June in 11 of its 30 districts.  The state government on Monday decided to enforce a weekend shutdown that has witnessed a steep rise in coronavirus cases over a month. Briefing media, Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy said that Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Bolangir, and Balasore districts will remain shut on Saturdays and Sundays, as these account for 95 percent of the total cases in the state. Offices, commercial establishments, bus services, local transports, and non-essential services will remain closed during the shutdown period. Healthcare services, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and medicine shops will be allowed. Also Read| After Delhi-NCR, Now Twin Earthquakes Hit Jharkhand & Karnataka At The Same Time | List Of Earthquake Zones In India The government said schools, colleges, and coaching centres would remain closed till July 31. Similarly, shopping malls, cinema halls, gymnasiums, and swimming pools would remain closed till June 30. However, hotels can function with 30% of their capacity, while restaurants would be open to in-house guests and also allowed to operate their takeaway services. Besides, the ban on social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions, and other large congregations continue to remain in force in the state till June 30. The state government has advised that all those above 65 years of age, those with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below 10 should stay at home except for essential and health purposes during the lockdown period. Odisha has decided not to ease the lockdown restrictions on night curfew, which will continue to be enforced between 7 pm and 5 am. The government also raised the penalty for people not wearing face masks and spitting in public places. “People, who’re found not wearing face masks in public places, will be fined Rs 500 for the first two offences and the fine will be increased to Rs 1,000 for the subsequent violation. Spitting in public places will lead to arrest,” said Abhay, director-general of police (DGP), Odisha. “We have been observing that people have become carefree as if we’ve developed an immunity to SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19. However, we need to be extremely cautious all through June. We’ll strictly enforce the guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.