Odisha to extend lockdown till April 30, schools shut till June 17

The Odisha
government on Thursday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state till
April 30 to effectively contain the spread of coronavirus.

Schools and
other educational institutions will remain closed till June 17, Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik announced after a videoconference with his ministers.

“We
have decided to extend the lockdown period till April 30 and a recommendation
in this regard will be sent to the Centre,” he said in a video message.

Patnaik said
the state has also urged the Centre to stop train and flight services to Odisha
till April 30.

Odisha has
recorded 44 positive cases of coronavirus so far.

The
nationwide lockdown was declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 to
break the chain of coronavirus transmission and it was scheduled to be lifted
on April 15.