News Highlights
- Jharsuguda district now has the lowest weekly positive rate in Odisha
- As many as 11 districts in the State have a weekly TPR of below or around 5 per cent.
- In India, 490 districts have a weekly TPR of below 5 per cent, with Only 8 districts from Odisha on the list.
- Kendrapada is the only district to show a rise in weekly TPR in Odisha.
Even as the tenure of Lockdown 3.0 is just around 68-hours away in Odisha, the decision of continuing lockdown in as many 6-7 districts is almost done. Though the districts may get relief in the guise of some relaxations in business hours, the lockdown and weekend shutdown will remain in force till June end.
As per highly placed sources, limited lifting of lockdown restrictions is very likely in as many as16 districts in the State but there is every likelihood that the night curfew (9PM- 5AM) in the districts may continue as a precautionary measure.
Highly placed sources in the State Home Department informed that since the count of active cases in all the districts, except Deogarh, are very high, at this stage the State government is not inclined to go for major relaxations in lockdown restrictions in the State.
“Our daily assessments reveal that in nearly 7 districts, the epidemic indicators are not conducive enough to merit lifting of the lockdown restrictions now. The active count is still of the higher-order in all the districts in the State. The situation will stabilise by only July first week. The unlock process will only resume in July,” informed a very senior official in State Home Department and added that on June 17, the State Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra will not let down the people of Odisha and will announce some vital relaxations.
COVID Shadow Districts
The districts of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore, Khordha, Cuttack, Kendrapada (the only district in the State where the weekly positive rate has been up in the week ending June 14), Puri and Angul will not see any relaxations in lockdown, except for opening up the window of essential business hours by nearly 2-hours. The weekend shutdown to continue till June 30.
“A proposal to give relaxation in business hours for essential services in the high-burden districts is under consideration. In all likelihood, the State government may go for providing some relaxations soon,” informed the official.
Districts Out Of COVID Shadow
As per the State Health Department situation report, Jharsuguda has done a wonderful job. In just a week’s time, the weekly positive rate in the district has seen a sharp drop to 1.84 per cent in the week ending June 14 from over 12 per cent in the week ended on June 9.
“The assessment reveals that the epidemic situation in 5-districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Deogarh, Nuapada and Jharsuguda) have been well under control. The government is in favour of giving relaxations in lockdown. Though the test positive rate in 7-other districts has been around the WHO recommended rate, the epidemiological parameters call for delay in lockdown relaxations in the districts like Sambalpur, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Baragarh and Sonepur.
What Will Be The Relaxations?
- Non-essential shops in the 16-districts will be allowed to open till 1 pm and 5 pm-8 pm.
- The opening of shopping malls in 7 districts will be left to the respective district administrations
- Restaurants and hotels may be allowed to function with strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines.
- No weekend shutdowns
- Relaxations likely in office attendance
What Will Be The Curbs?
- Night curfew (9 PM- 5AM) to continue across the State.
- Complete curbs on social, political and religious gatherings
- Curtain downs for Cinema halls across the State.
- Gyms and swimming pools to remain shut till June 30.
- Educational institutes to remain closed.
- Weekend Shutdown to continue in nearly 20 districts.
