Bhubaneswar: Amid rising in the Covid-19 cases in the state, the Odisha government on Tuesday announced the extension of the coronavirus-infused lockdown across the state till June 1 2021.
Lockdown in Odisha shall continue to remain in force upto 5 am of June 1 2021.
The extension of the two-week lockdown in the state has been announced with special focus on the 27 districts where the daily caseloads are around 1000 or more.
The ongoing lockdown that was scheduled to conclude at 5 am on May 19.
Even before the imposition of the statewide lockdown, a 48-hour weekend shutdown had been in force in the whole state since April 24 and night curfew even earlier.
But nothing seems to be working as the daily caseload has been consistently rising above 10,000 for nearly two weeks now, taking the total number of active cases in the state beyond the 1 lakh mark.
Essential activities, including the sale and supply of food items, groceries, medicines, etc, are allowed during lockdown from 7 AM to 11 AM.
The marriage ceremonies will be permitted with approval from local authorities with not more than 25 persons and in case of the thread ceremony/bratopanayan, funeral rites only 20 people are included with adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols.
This apart, complete weekend shutdown (Saturdays and Sunday) is also being imposed throughout the state.
There will be no restrictions on the movement of health care workers, frontline workers, government staff, judicial officials, journalists and those seeking medical attention. Services provided by self-employed persons such as plumbers, electricians and those engaged in repairing of water purifiers; courier services are also allowed.
Ms Kalinga