Amid the spiralling Covid-19 cases, the State Government on Tuesday ordered that schools and other educational institutions and cinema halls would remain closed till August 31.
Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, however, said the educational institutions would be allowed to remain open to conduct examinations and answer sheet evaluations.
The night curfew across the State would be clamped from 9 pm to 5 am with effect from July 1 instead of from 7 pm.
Based on the number of active cases, the Government categorised 10 districts, Ganjam, Gajapati, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jharsuguda, under Zone-1, the Chief Secretary informed.
“Local administrations in these 10 districts have been empowered to stop inter-district public and private transport movement if they feel the need arises. Offices and business establishments can be closed by the local authorities,” Tripathy said, adding that the weekend two-day (Saturday and Sunday) shutdown would continue in the 10 districts.
However, emergency services like fire and police are exempted from restrictions. Personnel of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department are also given an exception. Hotels and restaurants are only allowed for food takeaways while big groceries stores can make home delivery only.
Tripathy said he other districts have been categorised as Zone 2, where there would not be not much restrictions apart from the night curfew.