Odisha registers 100 plus new COVID-19 cases after 40 days
With Odisha registering 100 plus new COVID-19 cases after 40 days, the state government on Friday banned Holi celebrations in public places this year, an official said. "The order came in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Cuttack and Khurda districts. The state on Friday reported 110 new positive cases taking the tally to 3,38,599," a Health Department official said.
Holi shall not be observed in public places throughout Odisha
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) in an order said, "Holi on March 28 and March 29 and related rituals shall not be observed in public places throughout the state." "People may celebrate Holi with family members in their houses but not in any public places including public roads," SRC PK Jena said in the order.
Restrictions placed on Dola Jatra and related congregations
The government has also put restrictions on Dola festival where people across the state take Lord Krishna and Devi Radha in a palanquin called Biman. "Congregations for the celebration of Dola Jatra and associated religious and cultural congregations shall not be allowed in public places throughout the state. Religious rituals in temples will continue as usual with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols," the order said.
Restriction might be placed on entry of devotees into temples
However, it said that considering local conditions, District Magistrates-cum-Collectors and Municipal Commissioners may impose an appropriate restriction on entry of devotees into temples and celebrations in temples and religious places.
Dola festival may be allowed in certain areas
The order also said that the Dola festival may be allowed with an appropriate number of participants as decided by the district or municipal authorities in their respective jurisdictions with strict adherence to COVID-19 safety norms. Notably, the 110 new positive cases were reported from 22 of the 30 districts of Odisha, as per a Health Department official.
13 cases reported from a private college hostel in Cuttack
He said that 64 cases were reported from quarantine centers and the remaining 46 are local contact cases. Cuttack district reported 20 cases of which 13 were from a private college hostel. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has closed the college for 10 days.
100 plus cases were last recorded on February 9
The official said that the state had last reported more than 100 new cases on February 9 when 105 people tested positive. Since then, the number of daily new cases was in double digits. Odisha's coronavirus death toll remained at 1,918 as no fresh fatality has been reported since March 13. However, 53 other COVID-19 patients have died in the state due to comorbidities.
The state currently has 634 active COVID-19 cases
During the day, Odisha also registered the recovery of 71 coronavirus patients taking the total number of cured people to 3,35,994, which is 99.23 percent of the caseload. The state currently has 634 active cases. Odisha has so far tested over 87.36 lakh samples for COVID-19 including 24,572 on Thursday.
