Partial Lockdown in Odisha Till 5am of July 1

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday announced partial lockdown in the state till 5 am on July 1.  The week-long shutdown will continue in all districts as before.

Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra informed that districts have been divided into two categories for the partial lockdown. “In Category A, 17 districts with Covid test positivity rate below 5%, the shops will be open for essential items from 6am to 5pm. While in Category B, 13 districts with Covid test positivity rate above 10% the shops for essential items will open from  6am to 1 pm,” he informed.

The category-A districts are Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Devgarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Subarnapur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boud, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada.

While districts in Category-B areKhordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts from 9 am to 1 pm.

Mohapatra further informed that during the lockdown, sweet shops will be allowed to open, whereas there has been no change in the restrictions on weddings, cremation, meetings, social events and opening of temples. The restrictions would continue as before.

In the partial lockdown morning walk and jogging will be allowed. “Morning walk, jogging will be allowed from 6 am to 9 am, but no parks and gyms will be allowed to open,” he said.

Cinema halls, swimming pools, malls, salon and beauty parlours will remain closed. Similarly, the prohibition on film shooting and Jatra will continue.

Street food vendors will be allowed in 17 districts under Category A, however only takeaway will be allowed.