The partial unlock process has begun in Odisha from 5 AM today and it will continue till July 1 (5 am). The Odisha government on Wednesday eased the lockdown restrictions after the State reported a considerable dip in the COVID-19 infection rate.
Announcing the partial unlock plans, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra on Wednesday said that the State has been divided into two categories- A & B based on the present caseload and test positivity rate (TPR).
The Category A districts are the southern and western parts of the State where test positivity rate (TPR) is 5 percent or less. As many as 17 districts including Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada have been included in this category.
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The rest 13 districts- Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar have been slotted in Category B, most of which have a TPR above 7.5% and an active caseload of over 2,000.
Essential shops will remain open between 6 am and 5 pm in Category A districts while the same will remain open from 6 am to 1 pm in Category B districts.
Here are the new guidelines in details:
Movement of buses for public transport has been restricted in the new unlocks plans. Similarly, taxis (including auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws) and services of cab aggregators have been prohibited.
All the educational, training, coaching institutions, etc. will remain shut except the ones allowed by the Government. However, physical conduct of examinations by state/ national/ international bodies has been allowed on a case to case basis by the respective Departments with due intimation to all concerned authorities.
Exhibitions/ Trade Fairs/ Melas/ physical Business to Business meetings are prohibited.
All cinema halls, multiplexes, gymnasiums, park/ entertainment park/ amusement park/ theme park/ water park/ indoor amusement centres, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls, Merry-go-round (Doli)/ Meena bazaar and related activities and similar places are not allowed.
All salons/ barber shop, spa, beauty parlour etc will remain closed. Similarly, all the malls, Government & Private swimming pools will also remain shut.
All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ other gatherings have been restricted.
All religious places/ places of worship shall be closed for public. However religious rituals are allowed with bare minimum priests/ servitors and staff. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.
Marriages shall be permitted, with approval from local authorities, with not more than 25 persons and in case of Thread Ceremony/ Bratopanayan, funerals and last rites, the number of persons participating shall not be more than 20 (for the entire event) including hosts, guests, priests and catering and other support staff with adherence of Covid-19 safety protocols.
Indoor & outdoor film shooting/ TV serial related shooting shall not be allowed. Daily and Weekly haats will also remain closed throughout the State.
Home delivery by operators/ online delivery of all goods/ services by e-commerce platforms are allowed.
Hotels, home stays, Lodges and motels, which are accommodating tourists and persons stranded due to lockdown, medical and emergency staff, air and sea crew are allowed.
Shops that repair and service electrical and electronic appliances including fans, air coolers, water purifiers, air conditioners, mobile phones, computers, accessories, etc will remain opened.
Sale and service (including service units of dealers/ garage on wheels) of all automobiles/ bicycles will also remain opened. Garages, vehicle and bicycle repairing shops shall be allowed to operate.
Restaurants and dhabas for home delivery and take away services only. All Aahaar Kendras are allowed for take away service only.
Keeping in view the livelihood of milk producers, all sweet shops shall be allowed to operate within the time frame in category - A & B districts. However, the shopkeepers are allowed to give items only in parcels
Morning walk, jogging and cycling are allowed from 6 am to 9 am. Public transport by buses (inter-state and intra-state) will remain suspended till 5 AM of July 1, 2021 (Thursday).
All Construction activities and associated movement of vehicle/ labourers in both rural and urban areas are allowed. Weekly shutdowns will continue in all the districts and night curfew will also remain in force as before.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)