A complete lockdown has been announced in parts of Odisha from July 18, to remain in effect until midnight of July 31.
“The complete lockdown will be imposed in Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur district and Rourkela Municipal Corporation area from 9 pm of July 17 to July 31 midnight,” informed State Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.
However, shops selling vegetables, milk, and groceries will be allowed to open from 6 am to 1 pm.
During this 14-day lockdown, only essential services and workers associated with these services will be allowed to move freely. The local police have been asked to ensure strict enforcement and implementation of the guidelines.
“Delivery of food, groceries, vegetables, egg, fish, meat and other essential items by restaurants and aggregators such as Zomato, Swiggy, OPOLFED, OMFED, Chilika Fresh, etc.,” stated the official order.
Notably, medical establishments including government and private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, medicine stores will be allowed to operate as usual during. There will be no hindrance to the movement of ambulances and medical personnel during this period.
“Movement of Public Transport, private vehicles and taxis (including cabs by aggregators like Ola, Uber, etc.) to and from airports, railway station and bus terminals/ stands/ stops, for facilitating the movement of passengers by air, rail and road,” read the statement.
The state government has allowed e-commerce companies to function as usual.