As the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHFW) announced guidelines on how states can ease restrictions starting June 8 and get back to economic activities post two months of strict lockdown, Odisha is strategizing on lifting restrictions in a phased manner while maintaining lockdown restrictions in containment zones till June 30. Unlock1.0 will see major relaxations in terms of movement of people and resumption of major commercial activities like shopping malls, hotels & restaurants as well as religious places.
Odisha has recorded more than 3000 Positive cases this week with the highest single-day surge of 173 new infections amid weekend shutdown. The State’s tally stands at 3, 140 with 2, 133 Recovery cases and 9 deaths.
Cases in Odisha surged with the arrival of migrants in May and have been on an upward trajectory since. 4,26,504 migrants have returned to Odisha so far. Most of the migration happened from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra which happen to be some of the worst-hit states and have decided against easing lockdown restrictions. (Source - www.statedashboard.odisha.gov.in/)
Here’s a look at Odisha’s Lockdown 5.0 strategy compared to other states.
Odisha has chosen to start with limited relaxations. These include:-
Complete shutdown on Saturdays & Sundays in 11 districts – Khurda, Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore & Bolangir. Only essential services will be allowed to operate. Police Passes required for movement.
Schools, colleges, coaching centers to remain closed till July 31
Shopping complexes, cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools to remain closed till June end
The entry of people into religious places restricted until June 30.
Hotels can function with 30% capacity. Restaurants will operate only for people staying in hotels.
Night curfew to continue from 7 PM to 5 AM
Heavy Penalty for spitting in public & not wearing masks - ₹200-₹500 for 1st & 2nd penalty; ₹1000 for subsequent violations
No outdoor activities for co-morbid patients, persons above 65 years age & kids below 10 years old till June 30
While Telangana and Karnataka have followed almost all of the Central Government protocols and entered the Unlock 1.0 stage, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are entered into the 5th phase of lockdown owing to rising number of cases & infrastructural limitation because of huge population.
Meanwhile, West Bengal chose to go a bit soft on restrictions but Odisha decided to go strict on movements and ensure people venture out only for necessary economic activities on 5 days of the week by enforcing weekend lockdown till June 30. Odisha also decided to continue with the 10-hour curfew (7AM-5PM) instead of Centre’s 9pm to 5am.
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