July Guidelines: Odisha May Continue Partial Lockdown in State and Ease Restrictions In Green Zone Districts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra will announce the July Covid-19 guidelines today. It is expected that the state government may go for partial lockdown in all over the state and continue the prevailing lockdown in the five districts where the number of active cases and Test Positivity Rate is more than five percent. The government may also allow public transport with fifty percent occupancy. In a review meeting held yesterday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had emphasized on strict implementation of Covid norms in the Red Zone districts where the number of active cases and positivity rate is higher. While the overall positivity rate in the state has declined to below five percent Balasore and Malkangiri have reported 13.5 percent and 7.5 percent TPR.

It is also expected that the government may announce relaxations in opening of parks, gymnasiums and malls in the 20 Green Zone districts where the infections continue to be minimal and the TPR remain under five percent. Districts like Khordha, Cuttack, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak and Puri may see continuance of the present lockdown norms. The weekend shutdown may also be reduced to single day i.,e Sunday in the 20 Green Zone Districts.