Unlock 5.0 rules for Odisha: What is allowed, what is not

Cinema halls and swimming pools will also not be allowed to reopen in Odisha till October 31. However, bars and restaurants have already been reopened across the state.

Moneycontrol News

October 03, 2020 / 16:01 IST

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released guidelines for ‘Unlock 5.0’, on September 30, allowing more activities to open up outside of containment zones. The relaxations will come into effect from October 15.

Strict lockdown will continue to be imposed in the containment zones, the MHA said. Adding to existing relaxations made during the first four stages of ‘Unlock’, the Centre has permitted cinema halls and multiplexes to operate at 50 percent of their seating capacity.

Additionally, states and union territories have been given the free hand to decide after October 15, 2020, if they wish to re-open schools and coaching institutions in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/institution management, based on their assessment of the situation. However, online/ distance learning will continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.

Odisha has recorded over 2,22,734 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, and 859 people in the state have lost their lives due to the novel coronavirus infection. The number of active cases in the state stands at 36,122 while 1,85,700 people have recovered.

According to the unlock 5.0 order issued by the Special Relief Commissioner’s office, lockdown will be imposed in containment zones in Odisha; only essential activities will be allowed in containment zones.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a vaccine work?

A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine.

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