In view of rising number of Covid-19 cases reported from 11 districts, the State Government on Monday decided to enforce a two-day shutdown in these districts every week for a period of one month.
The 48-hour shutdown would be in force in the coastal districts as well as in Nayagarh and Balangir districts till June 30, said Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.
The districts to be under complete shutdown are Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Baleswar, Nayagarh and Balangir.
As around 95 per cent of the cases are reported from quarantine centres in these districts, the Government decided to restrict movement of people during weekends to contain spread of infections in community level, Tripathy said.
As per the shutdown restrictions, all offices, commercial establishments, bus services, local transports and non-essential services that resumed on Monday would remain closed for two days every week.
However, the healthcare services, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and medicine shops would be excluded from the shutdown norms.
The electronic media persons identified by district administration and police authorities would be allowed for movement on roads.
The railway and flight services and goods movement would remain unhindered during shutdown period.
The social distancing guidelines would be strictly followed in the sectors offering essential services, Tripathy said.
The move came on the first day of Unlock-1 after the Centre lifted lockdown in phases.