Odisha government on Thursday announced that the ongoing lockdown in the state will be extended till April 30, becoming the first state in the country to do so. Educational institutions in the state will remain closed till June 17, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said.
The ongoing country-wide lockdown which started on March 24 midnight is scheduled to last till April 14. The lockdown was put in place to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
However, agricultural activities, animal husbandry and work for poor people under Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will continue during the extended lockdown in the state maintaining social distancing norms, the CM said.
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The CM has requested the Centre to not start railway and airline services to the state till April 30. The state cabinet also suggested the Centre to extend the ongoing country-wide lockdown till April 30.
Till date, 42 have been affected with COVID-19 in Odisha, out of whom two have been cured and discharged while one has died.
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