Bhubaneswar: With the little improvement in the Covid-19 situation in the State, the Government has reduced the night curfew timing in urban areas by an hour.
Now, the night curfew will be enforced in the urban areas of Odisha from 10 PM to 5 AM, as per an order issued by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena.
The State Government has extended the guidelines and restrictions imposed in view of Covid-19 and Panchayat elections through various orders during the month of January will remain in force till February 28.
As per the order, all types of shops, malls, shopping complexes, markets/haats, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment complexes, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places can remain open across the State from 5 AM to 10 PM every day.
During the night curfew period, home delivery of food, groceries, vegetables, egg, fish, meat, milk and other essential items by restaurants and aggregators such as Zomato, Swiggy, OPOLFED, OMFED, Chilika Fresh etc have been allowed.
Restrictions have been imposed on the celebration of Saraswati Puja and Magha Saptami/ Magha Purnima during the month of February.
Saraswati Puja can be observed with all rituals in the temples and religious places without participation of devotees. Saraswati Puja will be allowed in educational institutions with participation of a limited number of students observing Covid appropriate behaviour, Mr.Jena said in the order.
However, no Saraswati Puja will be allowed to be celebrated in public places other than in schools and educational institutions, he said.
No community feast associated with puja/festivals during the period will be allowed. There will be no musical or any other entertainment programme on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, Mr.Jena further said.
Large congregations at river banks, ghats, ponds, sea shore or near other water bodies to take bath on the occasion of Magha Saptami/ Magha Purnima and on the day following have been prohibited throughout the State. However, the rituals can be performed inside the temple without participation of devotees.
All the State government-run offices will now operate with 100 per cent of the staff with strict adherence to Covid protocols. The General Administration and Public Grievances department will issue detailed guidelines/ SOP regarding attendance of officers & staff.