Odisha Announces Lockdown Relaxations In 17 Districts; Weekend Shutdowns, Night Curfew to Continue

Bhubaneswar: With the second wave of the Corona Pandemic showing definite signs of decline, the Government of Odisha has decided to relax the Lockdown guidelines in seventeen districts.

While essential shops and establishments will be allowed to open from 7 am to 5 pm in these districts, the remaining 13 districts will have relaxations from 6 am to 1 pm.

These new guidelines will be in place till 1st July. The current weekend shutdown and night curfew norms will continue to be in force.

Keeping in view the infection status, the districts of the state have been devided in to two categories – Category A: 17 southern and western districts where positivity rate is 5 percent or less, and Category B: 13 coastal and interior districts having high Test Positivity Rate.

The new guidelines announced today allow morning walk and jogging but parks and gymnasiums will remain closed. The government has also allowed sweets shops to open but they can only give parcels. The cycle sales and automobile repair shops are allowed to open. Street vendors in the 17 districts under the Category A are allowed to sale packaged items.