No crowding on streets after shutdown is lifted, Odisha govt warns people

Bhubaneswar, Apr 5 () The Odisha government haswarned people in Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak and Cuttack againstventuring out into the streets in large numbers after the 48-hour 'total shutdown' imposed on the three cities amid therise in COVID-19 cases - is lifted on Sunday evening.

Addressing a press meet here, Chief Secretary AsitTripathy said sanitisation and surveillance were beingconducted from time to time to ensure safety of people.

Dispelling fears of community spread, Tripathy alsosaid that the shutdown was primarily imposed to investigatethe COVID-19-positive cases in Surya Nagar and Bomikhal areasof the state capital.

"The Surya Nagar case can be traced back to Kolkata,while patients in Bomikhal locality had links with Bhopal.Therefore, as per our investigation, community transmission ofCOVID-19 can be ruled out to a large extent," he said.

The chief secretary, however, asserted that allrestrictions imposed by the Centre and the state governmentwould continue to remain in force.

Strict action will be taken against those foundflouting the social distancing norms, he stated.

"District collectors and police personnel have beenasked to enforce social distancing in market places. Peopleshould not step out of homes in large numbers and create chaos(once the shutdown is lifted).

"The government will have no option but to implementtougher measures, in such circumstances, he said.

Tripathy further said that local authorities have beenempowered to seal COVID-19 hotspots, if and when necessary,and carry out surveillance and trace contacts.

Maintaining that the state government has adopted bestpractices, in keeping with the guidelines issued by WHO, hesaid that the 48-hour shutdown, which ends at 8 pm on Sunday,was a complete success, and that similar steps might be takenin the days to come, if people were found violating rules.

Noting that around 80 per cent of COVID 19-positivepatients did not exhibit symptoms initially, he said socialdistancing, if not maintained, could invite trouble.

The chief secretary urged community leaders andopinion makers to raise awareness on coronavirus among people.

He also appealed to Tabligh Jamaat event attendees tocome forward and register themselves with authorities, whowould then arrange for their medical tests.

Three persons, including a religious leader, who hadattended the event in Delhi's Nizamuddin have tested positivefor COVID-19 in Odisha.

Meanwhile, the administrations in Jajpur and Puri haveimposed a shutdown in several pockets of the two districts onSaturday. The shutdown would remain in force till 8pm on April6 in Jajpur, while district officials in Puri said therestrictions will be in place till April 14.

"Public movement has been banned in Puri's containmentzones and entry and exit points have been sealed, after aperson tested postitive for the disease in Pipili block. Localresidents were being supplied essentials by the administrationat their door steps," Sub-Collector B T Sahu said.

In Jajpur, officials are trying to trace those thatcame in contact with the religious leader, who had attendedthe Delhi congregation, Collector Ranjan Kumar Das said.

Odisha has reported 23 COVID-19 cases so far. SKNRMS RMS