Coronavirus: Odisha announces 'total shutdown' in Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, Cuttack
The Odisha government on Friday announced a "total shutdown" in the capital city of Bhubaneswar and the town of Bhadrak. The move was announced as the fifth coronavirus case in Odisha had no travel history outside of the state. After a sixth case was reported from Cuttack, the city was also brought under the ambit of the shutdown. Here are more details.
Shutdown effective from 8 pm today for 48 hours
The "total shutdown" comes into force on Friday at 8 pm and will last until 8 pm on Sunday. The new restrictive orders—applicable only to Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, and Cuttack—also impact shops selling essential commodities, which will remain closed till 8 pm (Sunday). Only select medicine stores will remain open, Chief Secretary AK Tripathy said. Other regions will follow the 21-day nationwide lockdown as usual.
Will enforce complete closure of grocery, vegetable, milk shops: DGP
Odisha Director-General of Police Abhay told TOI, "We will enforce complete closure of grocery, vegetable, milk shops and stores selling other essential commodities during the 48 hours in the three places." He added, "Hospitals will remain open to attend to emergency cases only. Hospitals have been advised to close their OPDs." All passes issued for the lockdown will remain suspended during the 48-hour shutdown.
6 coronavirus cases reported in Odisha; 2 discharged
Odisha has reported six cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): four in Bhubaneswar, one in Bhadrak, and the latest one in Cuttack who recently visited Delhi. Two patients have been discharged. These include a 30-year-old researcher based in Italy who was discharged on Friday from Bhubaneswar's Capital Hospital and a 19-year-old—with travel history to the United Kingdom—who was discharged from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Shutdown imposed after fifth case was reported
The fifth case in Odisha stood out as the patient had not traveled outside of the state in the past one month. This worried the authorities, who, in an unusual move, revealed the identity of the patient in "larger public interest." The patient has been identified as Pradipta Dalabehera (60) from Bhubaneswar's Surya Nagar area. Officials are probing how he contracted the virus.
India's reports 2,301 COVID-19 cases nationwide; 56 deaths
Till Friday morning, India's Health Ministry had confirmed 2,301 confirmed COVID-19 cases. These include 56 deaths and 2,088 active cases along with 156 patients who have been cured or discharged and one patient who has migrated out of India.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 was first reported in China's Wuhan city in December 2019. The disease is caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus attacks a host's respiratory system triggering symptoms such as fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it may cause pneumonia, multiple organ failure, or death. COVID-19 has spread to roughly 170 countries, killing over 55,000 and sickening 10 lakh.
