The Odisha government on Wednesday announced partial unlock plans to relax the restrictions imposed in the State since May to check the spread of Covid-19 infection.
The partial lockdown will come into effect from June 17 (5 am) and will continue till July 1 (5 am).
Addressing a press conference today, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said, "The Covid-19 infection rate has drastically declined and the test positivity rate (TPR) has come down to 6 percent this week. I thank the people of Odisha for abiding by the lockdown measures strictly."
"The peak period in the State is already over and I hope if people continue to coordinate with the government, the situation can be completely brought under control in few days," added Mohapatra.
Under the new unlocking measures, the lockdown restrictions will be eased in 17 districts (Category A) out of the 30 in the State from tomorrow. Shops will remain open between 6 am and 5 pm in these 17 districts which includes- Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada.
The Category A districts are in the southern and western parts of the State where test positivity rate (TPR) is 5 percent or less.
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However, in rest 13 districts (Category B), shops will remain open between 6 am and 1 pm. Coastal districts and the districts having more positivity rate have been included in the Category B districts.
Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts fall under Category B.
The Covid-19 lockdown was initially imposed in the State from May 5 to May 17. However, it was first extended to June 1 and subsequently to June 17 following the rise in the infections in the State.
The State government has decided to open sweet shops in the partial unlock period keeping in view the livelihood of milk producers. However, the shopkeepers are allowed to give items only in parcels, informed the Chief Secretary.
Cycle (sale) and automobile repair shops will be opened as per the unlock plans. Street vending for take away packet has been allowed only in 17 districts under Category A.
Morning walk, cycling and jogging activities are allowed from 6am to 9 am but parks and gyms will remain shut in all the districts. Shopping malls, saloons, cinema halls, swimming pools will also remain closed. Weekly shutdowns will continue in all the districts and night curfew will also remain in force as before. Jatra and outdoor shooting are also not allowed.
All the restrictions regarding marriage, cremation, meetings, social gatherings, opening of temples will continue as before, as per the partial unlocking measures.
All essential services, transport of goods, industrial activities, construction activities will be allowed but public bus services have been restricted. Government and private offices across the State will operate with 50 percent staff.
The Covid-19 lockdown was initially imposed in Odisha from May 5 to May 17. However, it was first extended to June 1 and subsequently to June 17 following the rise in the infection in the State.