Odisha Announces Week-long Lockdown as Coronavirus Cases Rise to 283

Bhubaneswar, March 21, 2020:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered a week-long lockdown of 40 percent of the State in a bold move to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

Starting from Sunday’s nation-wide ‘Janata Curfew’, Odisha will be under lockdown till March 29. The lockdown will include State capital Bhubaneswar, twin city Cuttack and the important industrial townships.

A complete lockdown will be observed in Khurdha, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapada and Angul districts and the towns of Puri, Rourkela Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jajpur road and Jajpur town and Bhadrak in Odisha from 7 AM until 9 PM.

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In a video released by the Chief Minister, Patnaik explains the urgency of imposing a state-wide lockdown amid the fast spreading nature of coronavirus. “There is no cure for the virus in India. Prevention is the only cure. The time has come for us to take a bold step and sacrifice, to protect our state and our people. I humbly request you to stay at home and come out only for important services,” said Patnaik.

It may be mentioned here that during the lockdown, hospitals, clinics, chemist stores, grocery stores, vegetables, meat and milk shops, bakeries and restaurants for takeaways will be allowed. However, no sale of hot beverages will not be allowed.

Public transport will also remain open for public access during emergency. Administration, police, health, fire departments, electricity, water, municipal services, banks and ATMs and petrol pumps shall also remain open with private establishments that support these or working to fight the pandemic.

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Meanwhile, the benefits of pension and PDS have been postponed for a temporary period.

Announcing the near total lockdown in the state, the CM said that the most powerful countries like the US, UK and many in Europe have been severely affected by the deadly virus in the past fifteen days. In India, the number is rising rapidly.

As there is no cure for the deadly virus, the only cure is prevention, he said adding that more than 3000 people have returned to Odisha from coronavirus-hit foreign countries. He advised them to remain in home quarantine.

India has recorded a total of 283 cases of coronavirus and four deaths till now. The fifth is that of an Italian in Jaipur. Following the coronavirus state, a nation-wide call for a ‘Janata Curfew’ has been announced from 7 AM to 9 PM on March 22 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Globally, Italy reported a dramatic surge in coronavirus deaths at 627 on Friday, taking the total number of casualties to 11,397. The number of infected people also topped to 275,000.

China reported no new cases even on Friday, sparking a glimmer of hope.

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