Bhubaneswar: In order to curb the cases of COVID-19 infection in the state during this festive season, Odisha Government has issued unlock guidelines for November which will be till 5 am of 1st December 2021.
The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner, in an order issued on Sunday, said: “With a view to protecting the health of the public and preventing the spread of COVID-19 along with normalising the economic activities, stipulations/ instructions for graded unlocking as notified under order No. 4921/R&DM(DM) dated 31st August 2021 stand extended till 5.00 AM of 1st December 2021 (Wednesday) with additional stipulations/ restrictions. This order shall come into effect from 5.00 AM of 1st November 2021 (Monday).”
“SARS CoV-2 infection continues to be active in different areas in the State and in some parts of the Country and it is observed that after unrestricted religious celebrations leading to large congregations, the infection rate has loomed in some parts of the country,” the Odisha SRC said.
“This is a critical period as there may be a tendency to ignore COVID- safe behaviour during festivals, resulting in large gatherings, events, fairs etc. It is critical to enforce adherence to guidelines to allow festivities in a cautious, safe and Covid appropriate manner. Any laxity in implementation of Covid Appropriate Behavior could lead to serious consequences and can result in a surge in cases, the SRC added.
- Unlocking: There shall be graded unlocking throughout the State with effect from 5.00 AM of ft November 2021 (Monday) till 5.00 AM of In December 2021 (Wednesday)
- Night curfew: Night curfew shall be imposed in all urban areas of the State from 10.00 PM to 5.00 AM every day.
- Weekend Shutdown: There shall be no weekend shutdown across the State.
- During unlock period, all types of shops, malls could remain open across the state from 5.00 AM to 10.00 PM every day.
- All religious festivals/ festivities/ functions shall be held/ celebrated/ observed as per orders of the Government vide its order No 4534/ R&DM (DM) dated 9th August 2021. (Annexure-IV)
- Considering local conditions, District Magistrates/ Municipal Commissioners/ Police Commissioner, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack could impose appropriate restrictions on the entry of devotees into churches/ temples/ mosques/ religious places/ places of worship and in the celebrations in churches/ temples/mosques/ religious places/places of worship.
- Collectors/ Municipal Commissioners could decide the number of persons to attend any such religious ritual/ festival/Puja in their respective jurisdictions with strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour and norms.
- Guidelines/ stipulations relating to the sale and use of firecrackers during this festive month will be issued separately.
During the night curfew period, all activities shall be banned except the following:
- All commercial establishments including essential items, food and vegetable shops, excluding all medicine/ pharmaceuticals/ medical devices/optical shops etc. shall remain closed.
- However, home delivery of essential goods, food items, including grocery, vegetables, fish, meat, egg and milk are permitted. Further, home delivery of food by restaurants, hotels and aggregators such as Swiggy, Zomato etc. are allowed.
- No restrictions shall apply to COVID testing and vaccination centres and movement of persons/ vehicles for COVID testing and vaccination shall be allowed.
- All Government & Private offices/ establishments dealing with essential services/ utility providers like power, telecommunication, water supply, Police, Municipal Services, Railways/ Airport/ Port services and Security etc. shall remain functional.
- Movement of private four and two-wheeler, auto-rickshaws, cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber etc. are allowed for dropping and picking up passengers to and from airports, railway stations and bus stands.
However, during the night curfew, the District Magistrates/ Municipal Commissioners/ Police Commissioner, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, shall allow/ restrict any such activities as would be necessary in the interest of general health of the public and for prevention of the spread of COVID-19.
Any person violating the measures notified in the above order will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and COVID-19 Regulations 2020, besides legal action under Sec. 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable.
