Odisha’s Covid guidelines for March: What’s allowed, what’s not

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today announced the Covid guidelines for the month of March and stated the graded unlocking will be carried out throughout the State from 5 AM of March 1, 2022 till 5 AM of March 31, 2022.

There shall be no night curfew across the State.

What’s allowed:

• All activities are allowed to fully functional with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. All social, religious, political and sports gatherings are allowed with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
• Exhibitions, trade fairs, expo and melas are allowed with full compliance to Covid protocols.

District Magistrates, Municipal Commissioners and Police Commissioner, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack will determine the number of participants in social, religious, political, sports and other related gatherings and functions with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. Wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer will be mandatory.

• Political gatherings and meetings, rallies and door-to-door campaign for any election to be announced by the appropriate Election Commission shall be allowed as per the instructions and guidelines issued by appropriate Election Commission from time to time with full compliance to Covid protocols.
• During celebration of the ‘Dola Pumima’, people shall ensure Covid appropriate behaviour such as physical distancing, use of face mask and covering and hand washing and hand sanitizer. Religious rituals will be allowed with strict adherence of Covid-19 protocols.
• The ‘Mahashivaratri’ festival will be observed and celebrated as per the directive issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on 25.02.2022.
• Marriages, thread Ceremony or Bratopayan and related gatherings will be held with prior approval from local authorities with a ceiling of 500 persons including hosts, guests, priests and catering and other support staff with adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols.
• Funerals, last rites and related gatherings with approval from local authorities shall be allowed with a ceiling of 250 persons.
• Marriage processions shall be allowed with due prior written approval from competent authorities subject to the ceiling 100 participants including bridegroom, priest, friends, relatives, guests, members of band party, light and sound systems etc. The number of persons in marriage procession shall count towards the ceiling of 500 persons.

What’s not allowed:

The Odisha government stated ‘Holi’ and related rituals could not be observed in public places throughout the state. People cannot celebrate ‘Holi’ in any public places including public roads. However, they may celebrate ‘Holi’ with family members in their houses only.

District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners have been directed to impose any further restrictions as desirable considering local situations.