Covid Surge: BMC Issues Fresh Order To Prevent Overcrowding

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has issued a fresh order for street vendors, business establishments, Shopping Malls, Saloon/Spa/Barber Shops, all closed venues like Auditorium/Cinema Halls/Theatres etc., to strictly adhere to the guidelines and prevent overcrowding. The new Order comes in the wake of the Capital city reporting a sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 infections in the last few days.

According to the new Order, all the street side vendors like Tiffin shops / Tea Shops / Gupchup Stall / Dahiwada stalls, Lassi Stalls / Juice stalls etc., shall have to ensure no overcrowding of customers in their stalls. In case it is not possible for them to enforce this, they should follow takeaway methods for their customers. It also says that all Business establishments including shopping malls shall have to ensure no overcrowding in their premises and adherence to COVID appropriate behaviours like maintaining social distancing of 6 Ft, and appropriate use of face mask of their staffs / customers at all times.

The Shopping Mall owners should also make provision of thermal screening at entry point and provision of hand washing / hand sanitization for their customers / visitors. The Shopping Mall owners shall have to designate one responsible officer of their establishment as COVID compliant officer who will supervise the activities. The Order also says that Saloon / Spa and Barber shop shall have to adhere to strict COVID – 19 appropriate behaviour in their shops.

All closed venues like Auditorium / Cinema Halls / Theatres shall ensure proper mask wearing by all visitors / customers / participants at all times. The venue owners shall have to ensure no overcrowding of their premises and adherence of other COVID appropriate behaviours also.

Any deviation in this regard will be taken as violation of provisions of Odisha COVID Regulations 2020 and the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and appropriate action will be taken accordingly.