Odisha orders 60-Hour Shutdown of 3 Districts Following Spike of COVID-19 cases

By B.Maharana
Bhubaneswar,, April 23 :
Odisha Government ordered a 60-hour shutdown in three coastal districts of Jajpur, Bhadrakh and Balasore on April 23 to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, which created an alarming situation in the area.
“The shutdown would be effective from 10.30 PM 23 tonight till 10.30 AM on 26th April next’ said the Chief Secretary , Odisha, Asit Tripathy in a televised address.
He said the drastic decision to shutdown of three districts was taken following identification of 33 COVID-19 cases during last 5 days. All most all the cases have a travel history with the bordering state West Bengal, where the situation is grave.
Earlier , Odisha had declared a 48-hour shutdown on April 3 last in three cities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrakh to control the community spread of COVID-19 and the administration was successful in their venture.
Tripathy said, there would be a kind of curfew situation in the three districts during the shutdown period. He appealed the people of the districts to remain inside their houses during the shutdown period. Strong action will be taken against those violating the shutdown orders, he warned.
During the shutdown period, all the shops including those selling essential commodities would remain closed . However, some authorized medicine shops would remain open, Tripathy said..
Police have been asked to pick those roaming in the street and put them in 14-day quarantine. Heavy penalties will also be imposed on shutdown violators, the chief secretary said.
Meanwhile prior to the shutdown announcement , the state Government had appointed three secretaries to oversee and monitor the COVID-19 situation in three districts ,which reported a spike in coronavirus positive cases .
While Excise secretary S.K. Lohani will monitor the situation in Bhadrak district,Ssecretary to Governor P.K. Meherda will oversee the COVID situation in Jajpur and Agriculture special secretary S.K. Vashishth in Balasore, said an official order.
As per the order, the secretaries have been directed to make an on-site visit, review COVID-related management system in the districts and assist the district administrations.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has withdrawn containment zone orders from three areas in the capital city-Bomikhal area, Satyanagar area and Surya Nagar area.
As on Wednesday, Odisha recorded 89 COVID-19 cases with 55 active cases.Only one person died of Corona virus.