Will COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Odisha be lifted? Announcement today

Bhubaneswar: As the extended lockdown in Odisha is going to end on June 17 (at 5 am tomorrow), the state Government is likely to make an important announcement regarding the next course of action to further curb COVID-19 spread, this evening.

Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra will brief media at 1.30 pm today.

As per Government sources, the lockdown restriction is likely to be relaxed in districts where Test Positivity Rate (TPR) is below 5 per cent. However, night curfew may continue in the state. Besides, a special plan is also likely to be implemented for districts like Khordha, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Jajpur.

Also Read: Odisha Announces Phased UNLOCK; Fresh Guidelines Issued

Till yesterday, 14 districts of Odisha were under Green Zone with TPR remaining below 5 %. Jharsuguda has the lowest TPR at 0.4 % followed by Balangir and Ganjam with 0.80 % and 1.5 %, respectively.

Six districts–Nabarangpur (5.4%), Malkangiri (7.2%), Gajapati (6.29), Boudh (5.59), Angul (5.78 %) and Deogarh (5.41%) are in Yellow Zone. Rest 10 districts are under Red Zone with Jajpur having the highest TPR (over 22 %) followed by Khordha (11 %) and Bhadrak (9.6%).

Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Chief Dr CBK Mohanty said  decision regarding lockdown/unlock will be taken after reviewing data collected from all places. The rate of infection has come down and is expected to decline completely in next few days.

Even if the Government relaxes lockdown restrictions, people must strictly adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour in coming days, he stressed.

Director of Public Health Dr Niranjan Mishra said the infection rate in the state is under control now. Around 20 districts are reporting  below 100 single-day cases. The TPR has also declined significantly.