Odisha Extends COVID-19 Lockdown, Educational Institutions To Remain Closed Till July 17

Bhubaneswar: Besides extension of the COVID-19 lockdown till April 30, the Odisha Cabinet on Thursday decided to keep educational institutions across the state closed till June 17.

“The State Cabinet, which met today, decided that saving the lives of our people is the top most priority at this juncture. Accordingly we have decided to extend the lock down till April 30,” the CM said in a statement.

“We will recommend to Government of India to extend the national lockdown up to April 30. In addition to this, we will also request the Union Government not to start airline and railway services till April 30,” the statement added.

School across Odisha were closed and examinations cancelled following a weeklong lockdown announced by the Odisha government till March 29 after the first COVID-19 patient was detected on March 15. The nationwide lockdown extended it further till April 14. Since schools close for summer vacation from May till June, there have been talks about keeping them closed till the end of the vacation.