Odisha: Schools, colleges to remain closed till Durga Puja vacation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced schools and colleges in the State will remain closed till the Durga Puja holiday. While reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the State via video conferencing, the Chief Minister said the educational institutions will remain closed till the puja vacation keeping the concerns of students and parents in mind.

It is worth mentioning that educational institutions have been closed since March 17 in view of the pandemic.

He also stressed on the need for disbursal of more loans in rural areas to strengthen its economy. Also, the chief Minister directed officials to focus on MSME, agriculture, fisheries and SHG sectors in the State.

The Chief Minister asked everyone to be cautious during the epidemic situation. Due to an increase in testing there has been a decline in positivity rate and fatality rate, he informed.

District observers were directed to implement special plans prepared for hotspot districts so that there would be improvement in the situation. He emphasized on the availability of adequate number of ICU beds in COVID hospitals.

He asked officials to provide compensation as per the guidelines to the kin of COVID-19 victims by Friday.

Among others, Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo, Govt Chief Whip Pramila Mallick, Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, DGP Abhay, 5T Secretary VK Pandian and other officials were present in the review meeting.