Odisha extends lockdown till June 17 to curb COVID-19 spread
What's the story
The Odisha government on Sunday extended the lockdown till June 17 to further stem the spread of coronavirus. The second phase of the lockdown was to end at 5 am on June 1. It will now continue till 5 am on June 17. "The lockdown is primarily aimed at restricting the movement of people and not goods," Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra said
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The weekend shutdown will also continue: SC Mohapatra
"All restrictions and exemptions of the previous lockdowns will be implemented in the third phase too," SC Mohapatra said. The weekend shutdown will also continue, he added.
Relaxation
Relaxation period increased in three districts
"However, for three districts- Nuapada, Gajapati, and Sundergarh the relaxation period will be from 7 am till 1 pm, instead of 8 am to 11 am, from Monday to Friday, keeping in view the decline in COVID-19 cases in these places," SC Mohapatra said. "This relaxation may be withdrawn if there is any sign of rise in infections," he added.
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Restrictions around weddings and funerals to continue
SC Mohapatra said all businesses except salons, parlors, and malls are allowed to operate with COVID-19 guidelines in the three districts. Restrictions like a cap of 25 people at marriage functions and 20 people at funerals will continue, along with a prohibition on mass feasts.
Second wave
Second wave's peak period is over in Odisha: PK Mohapatra
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, PK Mohapatra said the second wave's peak period is over in Odisha and hoped that the situation will improve further in the next 10 days. He said that nine of the state's 30 districts, including Khurda, Cuttack, Balasore, and Puri contribute 60 percent of the total active cases.
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Significant decline in positive cases in western Odisha
PK Mohapatra said there has been a significant decline in positive cases in western Odisha districts bordering Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. On the vaccination front, he said that 98 percent of healthcare workers and close to 100 percent of frontline workers have so far been inoculated.
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3.82 crore vaccine doses procured through global tender
Nearly 30 percent of people who are aged 45 and above have been vaccinated in the state. "We have procured 3.82 crore doses of vaccines through global tender," the senior state government official said. PK Mohapatra added that the state has decided to set up one RT-PCR testing machine in hospitals in every district headquarter.