Lockdown in Odisha: districts, dates and restrictions
Odisha's government has decided to implement a lockdown in four districts and a municipal corporation between Friday and the end of the month.
In light of the steady surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, Odisha's government resorted to imposing a lockdown in four districts and a municipal corporation as of Friday, until midnight of 31 July.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy announced the districts where lockdown will be imposed are: Ganjam, Khorda, Cuttack and Jajpur, and Rourkela Municipal Corporation in Sundargarh district. He added that serious action will be taken during the lockdown in terms of monitoring, testing, tracing contacts, isolation and treatment.
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Lockdown restrictions
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena issued an order for the closure of all shops, commercial establishments, offices, and institutions during the lockdown, excluding only some essential services whose providers can still operate under lockdown.
Who can work during lockdown time
Grocery and dairy stores will be allowed to open from 6 a.m to 1 p.m. Aggregators providing essential goods like poultry and fish will be allowed during lockdown, as well as food home delivery.
Agriculture and its related activities, factories, industrial facilities, and construction works are also exempted from the order given that they can only operate with the bare minimum of their staff. Hotels and hospitality establishments on the state's high and major roads are also allowed. Air, rail, and maritime transport will be allowed, in addition to commodities transport on high roads.
66% of the state's coronavirus cases have been reported by the four districts that will be on lockdown, while 90% of cases recorded in Sundargarh district were reported from the Rourkela Municipal Corporation.