Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday revised the timing for commercial establishments during the second-phase of state-wide lockdown from Wednesday.
During the first phase of the lockdown, the government had allowed comercial establishments for six hours from 6 am to 12 noon from Monday to Friday. This pertained to ration shops (under PDS) and neighbourhood/roadside shops, dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal feed and fodder, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides including their transportation, warehousing and related activities.
However, considering large congregation of the people, the government has now revised the guidelines by permitting these shops to operate between 7 am to 11 am with strict adherence to COVID safety protocols.
The district collectors and municipal commissioners shall make all efforts to disperse vegetable vendors in such a manner that no person is required to travel more than 0.5 km for purchase of vegetables. Any violation of COVID-19 protocols will attract closure/sealing/cancellation of license of the shops concerned.
However, weekly and daily haats shall be prohibited.
Revised Timing For Night Curfew:
Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra informed that the duration of the night curfew will be from 7 pm to 7 am.
Revised Norms For Social Functions:
—Marriages shall be permitted, with approval from local authorities, with not more than 25 persons.
—For the thread ceremony/Bratopanayan, funerals and last rites, the number of persons participating shall not be more than 20 (for the entire event) including hosts, guests, priests and catering and other support staff with adherence of COVID-19 safety protocols. Under no circumstances, the number of participants shall exceed the ceiling for the entire event.
—Thread ceremony/ bratopanayana and related rituals shall be celebrated only in the family. No outside guest shall be invited. No feast shall be served in the function.
—In case of all these functions, no community feast shall be organised and no food shall be served at the venue. Only the takeaway food shall be allowed to the guests.
