Odisha issues guidelines for Oct; schools, colleges, cinema halls to remain closed

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today issued guidelines for the month of October to contain the spread of Covid-19. As per the order issued by the Special Relief Commissioner’s Office, lockdown will be enforced within containment zones till October 31, 2020.

Local authorities will demarcate containment zones in accordance with the guidelines of the MoHFW. Only essential activities will be allowed in the containment zones.

The order further stated no authority will impose any lockdown at district, sub-divison, city or below level outside the containment zones.

The order added religious places and places of worship for public will remain closed till October 31, 2020. Schools, Colleges, universities, anganwadis and other educational institutions will also remain closed.

However, conduct of examination, evaluation and other administrative activities will be permitted. Online/distance learning will continue to be permitted.

Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will remain prohibited till October 31, 2020.

The government, however, allowed political meetings and other functions in connection with the by-election to Tirtol and Balasore Assembly constituencies with the condition of not more than 100 persons in the gatherings. Facemasks, physical distancing, provision of thermal scanning and hand wash or santisiser are mandatory people to be present in the political meetings.

In case such meeting is to be held in closed premises, maximum of 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed subject to maximum of 100 persons, the order added.

Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment complexes, auditoriums and similar places will remain closed till the end of October.

However, open air theatres and similar places will be allowed to open subject to compliance of safety protocols such as mandatory wearing of face masks and physical distancing etc.

Swimming pools owned and controlled by the government or recognized by the Department of Sports and Youth services will be permitted to open for training of sports persons with effect from October 15.