Bhubaneawar, May 30: As was widely anticipated, the Odisha Government on Sunday extended the ongoing lockdown till 5 AM of June 17. Weekend shutdown and other restrictions will be continued as usual.
The current second phase of lockdown ends at 5 AM on June 1.
According to Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, the earlier two phases of lockdowns spanning 28 days had contributed to drastic fall in the Covid-19 test positivity rate (TPR) and the fresh restriction is most likely to contribute to the further decline of the infection.
“The rate of positivity which stood at 25 per cent three weeks ago had come down to 15 per cent. We need to reduce it further and hence, the Government has decided to extend the lockdown till June 17 morning,” said Mohapatra.
The Chief Secretary, however, added that the TPR must be brought to less than 10 per cent.
Agriculture, industrial and banking activities and emergency services will be allowed to be continued.
Stating that the weekend shutdowns on Saturday and Sunday will continue as before, the Chief Secretary sought cooperation of the people to make the third phase lockdown successful like before.
The Chief Secretary said that three districts – Sundargarh, Gajapati and Nuapada – will have six-hour relaxation to buy essential items from 7 AM to 1 PM as the positivity rate in these three districts has dropped below 10 per cent.
Saloons, beauty parlours and malls will remain closed.
In remaining districts, the shops will remain open for four hours from 7 AM to 11 AM.
