If you are planning to travel to Odisha now, you don’t need to be quarantined any more unless you are COVID-19 positive or have come in contact with an infected person. By Tanvi Jain
View this post on Instagram
Odisha has scrapped mandatory quarantine for travellers in Unlock 4.0, barring those who have either been tested positive for Coronavirus or have come in contact with anyone carrying the infection. Moreover, those travelling to the state for not more than three days, don’t need to quarantine themselves either.
Apart from this, the state government has also permitted bars and restaurants, to resume dine-in operations, but with strict rules and regulations in place, and has also issued a notice for the same to all hotels and bars associations.
View this post on Instagram
However, these relaxations have been provided only in the non-containment zones, and for the containment zones, the decision to reopen any such establishments has been left up to the local authorities.
Furthermore, while inter and intra-state movement of goods and individuals has been permitted, without any special pass; religious places and places of worship have been ordered to remain shut till September 30.
View this post on Instagram
However, the Konark Sun Temple was reopened last week after being closed for six months in wake of COVID-19, but with a strict set of SOPs, such as limited entry of only 2,500 visitors that too in two slots, which is half its strength before the lockdown. Other rules include, a set time frame for visitors to move around the temple, mandatory e-pass via digital payment, thermal screening, mask, and social distancing at all times. Moreover, public gathering and photography have been banned at the temple, and separate entry and exit points have been marked for safer movement within the premises. Apart from this, the authorities are ensuring regular sanitisation and proper hygiene at the temple.
The state has even lifted lockdown for 12 days i.e. from August 30 to September 7 in phase 1 and from September 12 to September 14 in phase 2, to facilitate NEET and JEE exams, and has also offered to provide free transport and accommodation to students appearing for the same.
Related: In A Bid To Revive Travel, Odisha Plans To Introduce Cruise Tourism Soon
