Partial lockdown to continue up to July 1 in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Partial lockdown will continue up to 1 July 5 AM in Odisha. In the wake of the second Covid wave, the State government had imposed lockdown from May 5 to 14, which as first extended to June 1 and subsequently to June 17 (5 AM).

Briefing media persons here, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said, the state government has categorized the districts based on the Covid positivity rate.

Category A districts are southern and western parts of the state where positivity rate is 5 percent or less. Category B districts are having more positivity rate.

There are 17 districts under Category and 13 districts under category B.

Category A districts include- Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada.

Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar districts fall under Category B.

In Category A districts, shops for essential goods will open from 6 AM to 5 PM.

In category B districts, shops for essential goods will open from 6 AM to 1 PM.

Keeping in view the livelihood of milk farmers, the state government has decided to open sweet shops. They can only give parcels.

The cycle sale and automobile repair shops will also open.

Street vending for take away packet is allowed only in 17 districts under Category A. Morning walk and jugging is allowed but the parks and gyms will remain closed.

All essential services, transport of goods, industrial activities, construction activities will be allowed. But public buses will not run during the period.

All restrictions regarding marriage, cremation, meetings, social gatherings, opening of temples will continue as before.