Dhenkanal: The Dhenkanal district administration today declared a three-day shutdown in Bhuban NAC with effect from August 18 (tomorrow) to contain spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

The district Collector imposed the shutdown as over 150 positive cases have so far been detected in the NAC and most of the cases are local contacts. During the shutdown, all preventive and  response measures, including intensive contact tracing will be carried out.

"It is also apprehended that persons coming  from highly vulnerable districts and adjacent areas to Bhuban NAC may be a carrier and transmit the virus to other people due to their active exposure.In view of the rising cases, it is essential to take stricter precautionary measures," said the order issued by Collector Bhumesh Chandra Behera.

During the shutdown, only the following activities shall be allowed:

  • All medical establishments i.e. hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, including medicine stores, movement of ambulances and all medical personnel
  • District and municipal administration/police/fire services.
  • Central and State government officials on emergency duty
  • Telecom Services.
  • Petrol Pumps
  • Print and Electronic Media identified by the DI & PRO/ District Police.
  • Water supply, sanitation and sewerage workers
  • Electricity supply & Distribution
  • Movement of Goods and good carriers either loaded or unloaded.
  • Industrial establishment, Factories and Construction activities
  • All agriculture, horticulture and  fisheries, animal husbandry, veterinary services & allied activities, including procurement at mandis.
  • Movement of road transport on highways, road movement of transiting vehicles
  • Movement of public transport, private vehicle and taxis (including cabs by aggregator like Ola, Uber, etc) to and from airport, railway station and bus terminals/ stands/stops, for facilitating movement of passengers by air, rail and road.
  • Marriages and funeral with permission of the local authority.
  • ATMs
  • Operation of bus station and their associated offices, movement of associated personal and activities
  • Home delivery of food, groceries, vegetables and essential items by restaurants and aggregator.
  • Dhabas along NH and SHs and major roads for takeaway only
  • Milk booths.
  • Newspaper hawkers between 5 am and 8 am only
  • LPG distribution, home delivery of cooking Gases & associated activities, personnel and vehicular movements.
  • Banks, Insurance & Financial Institutions including service organizations to operate with not more than 25% of their manpower for essential banking transaction and  ATM feeding
    agencies.

"Persons violating the order will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under section 188 of the IPC and other legal provisions as applicable," the order reads.