The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner, Government of Odisha (“Government”) has issued guidelines to re-open more activities in the areas outside of containment zones and to extend the lockdown in the containment zones up to 30th September 2020.
Key Highlights:
Some of the important aspects of the guidelines are as follows:
(a) Lockdown has been enforced within the Containment Zones till 30th September 2020.
(b) In the Containment Zones, only essential activities will be allowed. There will be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. There will be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions as required by Guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare / Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.
(c) The Guidelines prohibit the Authorities from imposing lockdown outside of the containment zones at District, Sub¬division, City or below level.
(d) The following activities will continue to e prohibited till 30th September 2020:
I. Religious places/ places of worship for public.
II. International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by Ministry of Home Affairs.
III. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment complexes, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. However, open air theatres and similar places will be permitted to open with effect from 21st September 2020.
IV. Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations.
(e) All offices of State and Central Government and in Private Sector must ensure adherence to the SOP on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in offices issued by Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha dated 30th June 2020.
(f) Wearing of face cover/ mask properly has been made compulsory in public places; in workplaces; and in public transport.
(g) Individuals are required to maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet in public places.
(h) Shops and Commercial Establishments are required to ensure physical distancing and use of face cover/ mask by employees and customers. The onus of compliance to the guideline falls with the owner of the shop/ commercial establishment. He will be liable for any violation which might lead to penal action including closure/ sealing of the premises.
Source: Office of the Special Relief Commissioner, Government of Odisha
