Odisha extends lockdown period till April 30 as total cases soar to 44

Bhubaneswar: While the centre is yet to take any decision regarding extension of the lockdown period, the Odisha government on Thursday extended the lockdown period till April 30. The government has also decided to conduct about 1 lakh rapid tests.
“Odisha Cabinet headed by CM Naveen Pattnaik has decided to extend the state lockdown till April 30th & recommended Union Government to extend the national lockdown till then. CM requested the GoI not to start train & air services during the lockdown” twitted the chief Minister’s Office.
Odisha has become the first state in the country to extend the lockdown. Apart from extending the lockdown, the state government has ordered closure of all educational institutions till June 17th.
“I know it involves a lot of sacrifice, hardship and uncertainty but this is the only way to face this crisis”, adding from 15 March when we had the first case, till today at 42 cases your discipline and sacrifice has helped the state. ” said the Chief Minister in a special video message.
He pointed out that in the same period, US – a Superpower, has moved from 3000 to 4 lakh cases.
However, during the lockdown period, activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and MGNREGS will be facilitated following social distancing norms.
The number of COVID19 cases in Odisha has increased to 44 on Thursday after 2 more positive cases detected in Dhenkanal and Bhubaneswar.
A 51-year old woman in Dhenkanal Town and a 69 year old male, who have come from WestBengal’s Medinipur, have been tested positive with COVID19.