Odisha: Weekend shutdown in ten districts from April 17
In a bid to break the chain of the COVID-19 infection, the Odisha government on Thursday announced a weekend shutdown in ten districts bordering Chhattisgarh where the number of active coronavirus cases crossed the one lakh mark, an official said. The restriction will be imposed in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nabarngpur, Koraput, and Malkangiri from Saturday, Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra said.
Coronavirus cases have risen in Odisha despite strict steps
The government extended the night curfew to all urban areas from the ten western Odisha districts implemented on April 5. Despite stringent measures taken by the state government, coronavirus cases have increased in the ten districts in the last two weeks, and a surge in COVID-19 infections has also been witnessed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and other urban areas during the period.
Night curfew imposed in another 20 districts of the state
The government has decided to impose a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in urban areas in 20 other districts where no such restriction is in place at present. In the other ten districts, where the restriction is already in place, the night curfew will now be from 6 pm to 5 am from Saturday, both in urban and rural areas.
Curbs imposed to restrict movement of people
Essential services, including water supply and healthcare, will be exempted from the purview of night curfew. No passes will be issued but workers and employees involved in the delivery of emergency services need to carry their identity cards while traveling during the restricted hours at night. The curbs will be in place to restrict the movement of people, not commercial vehicles.
Odisha government to cancel all inter-state services
The government has already suspended bus services from Odisha to Chhattisgarh and will start canceling permission for all inter-state services from April 19. The government has also announced the postponement of all board examinations. The fresh restrictions will help check the spread of the disease. The Chief Secretary urged people to follow COVID-19 protocols and maintain social distancing norms in public places.
Odisha's COVID-19 tally crossed the 3.5 lakh mark
The state government appointed 21 senior IAS officers as COVID-19 observers in several districts to help contain the spread of the disease. These moves were announced by the government at a time when Odisha's COVID-19 caseload jumped to 3,58,342 on Thursday after 2,989 people tested positive, the biggest single-day spike this year. Two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,935.
