COVID-19 Fightback: Entire Odisha To Go Under Lockdown From Midnight Today Till March 29

Bhubaneswar: All 30 districts of Odisha will be placed under complete lockdown from midnight today in view of the outbreak of novel-Coronavirus disease in India and abroad.

Addressing an urgent presser here, Odisha government's COVID-19 Spokesman Subroto Bagchi informed that the remaining 16 districts of the State will also go under lockdown till midnight of March 29 to prevent any epidemic of the viral disease in the State.

After announcing the lockdown of five coastal districts and eight major towns that accounted for a major chunk of the foreign returnees, the State government had extended the tight restriction to 9 other districts on Monday.

#Odisha government's #COVID19 Spokesman Subroto Bagchi addresses media on enforcement of lockdown in all 30 districts of the State from today midnight. Listen in. #OdishaFightsCorona #OdishaLockdown #COVID19outbreak pic.twitter.com/rPZbVnFfyE

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"All district collectors of the remaining districts have been informed that the lockdown regulations that have been implemented in earlier areas will come into effect from midnight today so they should accordingly prepare. District authorities have been said that after ensuring safe movement of SC/ST from various State-run hostels to their homes by today evening, the lockdown will be enforced," Bagchi informed.

Also Read: Lord Jagannath In Lockdown For 144-Yrs, Covid-19 Lockdown Mere 8-Days: Bagchi

"However, essential services like medicals, path labs, medicine stores, police, fire-fighting, ODRAF, electricity, municipal bodies and private entities helping State government in fighting COVID-19 will be exempted from the restrictions. Banks should focus on reducing their workforce to 10% of their running strength with necessary permission from the district authorities," he added.

Read More: Odisha Covid-19 Lockdown: Passes Must For Office-Goers In Bhubaneswar-Cuttack