Covid-19, Odisha will extend lockdown till April 30.
According to
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, to save the lives of people we are going to
extend the lockdown till April 30.
Odisha the government on Thursday decided to extend the lockdown until April 30 to contain the spread of Covid-19, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced after the state
cabinet held a meeting through video-conferencing.
Stating that
one had to decide between protecting the lives of people and economic activity
at this crucial juncture, he said the Cabinet decided that saving the lives of
people was the topmost priority at this juncture.
In a video the message, Mr. Patnaik announced that the State would recommend to the central government to extend the national lockdown up to April 30.
The chief
minister further announced that educational institutions in the State would
remain closed till june17.
As regards
the people from Odisha who were stranded in various parts of the country, Mr.
Patnaik said his government's intervention for their well-being would be
through the state governments concerned. Odisha will take care of all the people
who are stranded in Odisha.
Activities
related to agriculture, animal husbandry, and MGNREGS would be facilitated
during the lockdown period adhering to social distancing norms, announced Mr.
Patnaik, while adding that the food security of the people was a major priority of
his government. There will not be any problem with the transport of goods.
As regards
containing the epidemic, Mr. Patnaik said the state government was leaving no stone
unturned in scaling up testing and treatment facilities. We propose to do one
lakh rapid testing in the state at the earliest possible time.
He thanked
doctors from all over the country who had volunteered to offer their services to
the people showing symptoms of COVID-19 through the telemedicine helpline that
was launched on Wednesday.
Observing
that coronavirus was the biggest threat that the human race had faced for more than
a century, Mr. Patnaik said life would not be the same ever.
All of us
must understand this and face it boldly together, he added.
Source: The Hindu
