Lockdown in Odisha extended till April 30
PANDEMIC CONTROL The government has decided to keep educational institutions in the state closed till June 17; number of people affected with the novel disease in state rises to 44
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Thursday decided to extend the lockdown period till April 30 to combat the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.
It also decided to keep the educational institutions closed till June 17.
Odisha is the first state in the country which extended the lockdown period by another 15 days.
“In view of the situation arising out of COVID-19, the state government decided to extend the lockdown period till April 30,” chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in a video message.
Two more COVID-19 cases were reported in Odisha on Thursday, taking the total number of people afflicted with the dreaded virus to 44 in the state so far, health department official said.
A 51-year-old woman from Dhenkanal town tested positive for Covid-19 while an elderly man from West Bengal’s Medinipur district was also diagnosed with the infection here, a senior official said.
“Two new COVID-19 positive cases confirmed today,” the Health and Family Welfare department tweeted.
The 69-year-old man from West Bengal was brought to Bhubaneswar in an ambulance and admitted at a private hospital here, the official said.
Earlier, 34 cases were reported from Khurda, three from Bhadrak and one each from Cuttack,
Kendrapara, Kalahandi, Puri and Jajpur.
Now Dhenkanal is added to the list of districts where COVID-19 cases were detected in the state.
While extending the lockdown period, the state cabinet, which met on Thursday, decided to recommend the Centre to extend the national lockdown till the period.
The government has also requested the Centre to stop rail and air communication during the period.
He clarified that the essential services will remain unhindered during the lockdown period.
“There will not be any problem in transport of goods. We are leaving no stone unturned in scaling up the Covid testing and treatment facilities. We propose to do one Lakh rapid testing in the state at the earliest possible time,” the chief minister said.
Activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and MGNREGS will be facilitated during the lockdown period following social distancing norms whereas all educational institutions will remain closed till June 17.
He thanked the 4.50 crore people of Odisha for extending all the support and cooperation in this serious crisis.