Odisha Orders Shut Down in 11 Districts on Every Saturday and Sunday; Schools and Colleges to Remain Closed Till 31st July

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to enforce shutdown during the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) till June 30 in 11 districts that are registering a large number of migrant returnees.

The shutdown will be implemented in 11 districts including coastal districts on every Saturday and Sunday.

The districts are Ganjam, Nayagarh, Balangir, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jajpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Khurda.

Briefing the media, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said, lockdown ended yesterday and unlock-1 has begun. The number of positive cases will increase with the return of large number of migrants.

Till date 4,26,504 migrants have returned to the State and at present 2,49,769 persons are in quarantine centres and 2.87 lakh persons have been discharged. As 95 percent of the COVID positive cases reported are from quarantine centres, there is no need to panic. He said, this fight is not going to end soon and we have to stay ready for every situation. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already said that the month of June is very crucial for Odisha.

He said shopping complexes, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools will remain closed till June 30 in Odisha. Hotels will operate with 30 percent guests. Cinema halls, gymnasiums and other places of large gathering will remain closed till June 30. Political and social gatherings are prohibited till June 30.

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain closed in Odisha till 31st July. No religious functions will be allowed in the state till June 30.