'June crucial for Odisha to fight COVID-19, need to be cautious in Monsoon': CM Patnaik

CM Naveen Patnaik while addressing people of Odisha on Thursday said that month of June is very crucial for state in view of its fight against COVID-19 pandemic. He also asked people to practice self-restraint by following guidelines.

"Relaxation in lockdown does t mean that re is threat of coronavirus; don't make this mistake, as I had said earlier that this month of June is very crucial for all of us," Odisha Chief Minister said. 

READ | Odisha Govt asks districts to focus on community surveillance to check COVID-19 spread

'We need to be extra cautious'

"Coming 25 days are very critical for us due to return of around 5 lakh people to home from outside State, and advent of monsoon, which is very prone to cold, cough and flu so we need to be extra cautious, and spread of disease will depend on how efficiently people follow guidelines related to COVID-19 during this month" Patnaik added.

Patnaik stated that state government has anunced weekend shut down in 11 districts to reduce frequency of people coming out of home in month of June. This means people will be restricted from coronavirus as y will be at ir homes for 8 days in month of June.

Odisha imposes 'weekend shutdown'

"Similarly 10 hours night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am will restrain people for 300 hours in a month, it means both lockdown and night curfew will restrict people indoors for 17 days in a month, which will help to check COVID-19 spread to great extent," CM ted.

state government had earlier imposed 'weekend shutdown' in month of June in districts of Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh, Khorda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Balangir with relaxation only for emergency and public services. All schools, colleges, educational institutions, training institutions/coaching centres shall remain closed till July 31 in view of coronavirus outbreak.

READ | Odisha's Keonjhar becomes first district to provide minimum ws to all MGNREGA workers

As many as 90 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Thursday, taking total number of cases in coastal state to 2,478, a health department official said. Of total 2,478 cases, re are 988 active COVID-19 cases in Odisha, official said. As many as 1,481 people have recovered from deadly disease and seven died. Two or coronavirus patients died of pre-existing ailments, official said.

READ | Odisha imposes weekend shutdown in 11 districts; allows exclusive time for elders in parks

READ | 90 test positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, total count 2,478

(With ncy inputs)