The Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha has announced a seven-day lockdown from March 22 to 29 in five districts and eight towns and the capital to combat the threat of coronavirus.

The five districts of Khurdha, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapada, Angul will join the lockdown. The eight towns include Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jajpur Road, Jajpur town and Bhadrak will also join the lock down to knock down Covid-19.

Naveen made this announcement on Saturday.

“Hence in the first phase, we are going for a near complete lockdown in all these areas from 7 am tomorrow till 9pm of 29th March. I humbly request you to stay at home and come out only for basic services,” Naveen said.

These five districts and eight towns have been chosen for the lock down as these are the districts where more than 70 per cent of the total 3,200 foreign returns belong to.

All congregation of more than seven persons are prohibited in public places. In a press release, the government said: “Odisha becomes the first state in India to lock down 40 per cent of the state combat Covid-19.” No public transport services, including operation of the taxis, autorikshaws, will be permitted. The exceptions include transport of all kinds to and fro from hospitals, airports, railway stations, bus terminal and bus stands. All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops, godowns shall close their operations.

Hospitals, clinics, medical shops, grocery shops, restaurants (only takeaways and home deliveries) vegetables, meat and milk shops/bread and bakery (but selling of tea and other beverages on the same premises have to be closed), railways, bus stands and airports will be opened as also public transport.

In these districts and towns all distribution of benefits such as pension and PDS are postponed for the time being. District collectors are empowered to add or delete any sector/service to this list based on local assessment.

In a press release, the government asked the private companies to encourage work from home. “In case they cannot do so and need to continue they need to get a certificate from the concerned collector to continue,” the release said.

Administration, police, health, fire, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), electricity, water, municipal services, banks, ATMs, petrol pumps shall remain open. All service providers, including private sector engaged in Covid-19 will be declared as Emergency Workers.

Naveen urged the the sarpanches and elected representatives and other community leaders to keep a close watch and monitor this lockdown.

The state government has authorised the officials to take necessary action for implementation of the rules. “Any person found violating the containment measures shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code (punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both),” the order said.