Finance
By: Shree1news, 30 MAY 2021
Bhubaneswar: As expected, the Odisha government on Sunday extended COVID-induced lockdown for the third time, till June 17.
Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra stated at a press briefing that lockdown in the entire state will be extended upto 5 am on June 17. Also, complete shutdown throughout weekends, from 6 pm to 5 am, will remain in force.
He further stated that restrictions and exemptions that had been applicable throughout lockdown till now, will continue.
Justifying imposition of the third-phase lockdown, Mohapatra stated although the test positivity rate (TPR) in western states bordering Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh has witnessed a speedy decline, coastal districts still have around 25 per cent TPR.
“Before the onset of Cyclone Yaas, about 7.5 lakh people in the coastal districts had been shifted from low-lying areas and moved to cyclone shelters. Apart from this, several workers from different departments are engaged in post-cyclone restoration work. As these people were staying in a relatively close place and people engaged in restoration work are working together, the possibility of positive cases rising cannot be ruled out. Moreover, as the average TPR within the state is still above 10 per cent, the government has decided to extend the lockdown,” Mohapatra defined.
Claiming that imposing statewide lockdown has yielded positive results, the CS stated the average TPR in the state has come down to 15 per cent in last 25 days, compared to around 25 per cent before first-phase lockdown.
Mohapatra further informed that since the TPR in three districts — Nuapada, Gajapati and Sundargarh — has come down to below 10 per cent in last few weeks, the state government has determined to relax lockdown restrictions to some extent.
“It has been decided that the people of these three districts will be allowed to purchase essential commodities from 7 am to 1 pm. All trading establishments except saloons, parlours and malls will remain open in these districts,” he added.
He added that relaxations in these districts can be withdrawn if the TPR increases.
The Chief Secretary went on to say that the state government will relax restrictions in other districts also, if TPR there comes down to below 10 per cent.
In view of the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, the Odisha government had clamped lockdown from May 5 to 19 and then extended it from May 19 to June 1. Now, it’s been extended further.
Source:A-N
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