Lockdown in Odisha can’t be ruled out: DMET

Bhubaneswar: Amid the surge of Covid-19 cases in some states in the country, the Odisha government on Saturday cautioned people to follow the guidelines strictly in order to avoid the possible return of lockdown situation in the state.

“We can’t rule out the likelihood of a re-imposition of lockdown if people don’t take the necessary precautions to keep the virus at bay,” cautioned CBK Mohanty, Director DMET.

He said the situation in Odisha is not like what is happening in Maharashtra or Kerala.

The present Covid-19 situation doesn’t indicate any further lockdown in Odisha for the time being, but it can’t be ruled out, said the DMET.

Notably, the Maharashtra government has clamped night curfew in parts of the state following the surge in Covid cases.

 Khordha Collector Sanat Mohanty said lockdown will be imposed at places where Covid-19 cases rise and if needed, containment zones will also be announced.

The Odisha government has decided to make people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour more stringently.

Additional chief secretary (health) Pradita Kumar Mohapatra on Friday said district administrations have been asked to crackdown on people for not wearing masks in public places and violating social distancing norms, tried and tested measures against all variants of the virus. “In the recent past there has been a surge of Covid-19 positive cases across some states, notably Maharashtra. In view of the movement of people across the country, it is quite possible that such a situation may arise in Odisha unless adequate precautions are taken,” Mohapatra wrote in a letter to the district collectors and municipal commissioners.