Odisha Schools closed until class 12, Night curfew extended, Check revised guidelines here

With an increase in the COVID-19 cases and detection of new Omicron variant in Odisha, the state government has decided to extend the night curfew in twins by an hour and also stopped the offline classes for the students until class 12. As per the new restrictions issued, the night curfew will be effective from 5 AM on January 7, 2022, until 5 AM on February 1, 2022. 

Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena stated that the night curfew will be imposed from 9 PM to 5 AM in all urban areas of the state instead of 10 PM to 5 AM which was the original timing for curfew.

It must also be noted that only essential activities will be allowed during the night curfew. The revised guidelines were announced after the Daily COVID cases increased past the 1000 mark for the first time in five months. 

SRC further added that the spread of Omicron is three times faster than the Delta Variant and in the last four or five days itself, Odisha has witnessed an increase in the positivity rate. Jena is of the opinion that a new wave of COVID-19 has begun in Odisha. 

Revised COVID Restrictions

The state government has capped the number of guests permissible at weddings and thread ceremonies at 100 and only 30 people can participate in the ‘Baraat’.

Both government and private offices will run at 50 percent capacity and there will be no offline classes for the students until class 12. Online classes will resume as before and so will the matric assessment examination.

The SRC in an order issued further stated that a maximum of 100 people will be allowed to participate in the government official meetings or training programmes. Cinemas can run with a maximum of 50 percent capacity while hotels and bars will be allowed to operate with 50 percent seating capacity. Roadside vendors can remain open until 9 PM.

The notification further added that ‘Jatra’ and open-air theatres can have only 1000 spectators adhering to the COVID-19 protocol but no cultural events or trade fairs will be allowed. In small shops and roadside outlets, not more than 5 people should be allowed to stand at a time and the government has also banned any kind of socio-religious and cultural events at any hotel, park, and other public places. 

The SRC further added that in case of any violation of guidelines at any malls or shops, the owner will be held responsible and as per the Pandemic Act the concerned outlet will be shut down for seven days.

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