Odisha extends lockdown till 30 April; Schools will remain closed till June 17

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has closed the lockout by 30 April and educational institutions by 17 June to prevent the spread of novel coronaviruses.

“At this critical juncture, saving lives and deciding between economic activities. The state cabinet, which met today, decided that saving the lives of our people is the top priority at this time, ”Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a briefing on Thursday.

The state cabinet also decided to request the Center to extend the nationwide lockout on 21 April, which ends on 14 April. Odisha wants the center not to resume train and air service by the end of the month.

Activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and flagship Rural Employment Scheme MGNREGA will be facilitated by following the norms of social distances during the lockdown period.
“I thank the 4.5 crore people of Odisha that the cooperation and support of all of you is in a situation of this grave crisis.

I know it involves a lot of sacrifice, difficulty and uncertainty, but it is the only way to face this crisis, ”Patnaik said.

Patnaik said that there were only 42 positive cases of Kovid-19 in Odisha as the first case came out on 15 March, which was a reflection of the disciple shown by the citizens. "Over the same period, the United States - a superpower - has moved from 3,000 to four million cases. Patnaik said the United States lost more people in all wars and 9/11 attacks than Kovid-19 Is and still has not closed the country.

Speaking to ET on Wednesday, Biju Janata Dal MP Pinaki Mishra had said that he hoped the center would extend the nationwide lockout. Odisha had asked the Center to bring flexibility in exit strategies.

Referring to the Odia migrant workers stuck in other states, the CM requested that they take care of the state concerned, while other states promised to continue to look after the workers.

The CM assured the people of the state that there will be no shortage of food and the state is leaving no stone unturned to enhance Kovid-19 testing and treatment. “We propose to conduct one lakh rapid trials in the state at the earliest possible time. Patnaik said that we would like to thank the doctors across the country who have volunteered to provide their services in telemedicine.