By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: While Fighting COVID-19, Odisha Chief Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday pitched an emotional appeal as Odisha launched ‘Mo Jeebana’ Initiative to keep people to stay home during the lockdown period and think of their family’s safety.
In a video message, the Chief Minister urged the people to take a pledge not to come out of their houses during the lockdown while launching the ‘Mo Jeebana’ campaign.
The Chief Minister further said in the video message, “Whatever I have requested to you in the past 20 years, you have obliged to it. Now I urge you to take a pledge to stay home. If we remain cautious and alert, coronavirus will be kept at bay.”
“If you go outside, wash your hands for 20 seconds before entering house,” the CM added.
Meanwhile, later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown across the country beginning tonight.
In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, the entire state is under lockdown and the movement of people have been restricted. Odisha DGP Abhay instructed the department officials to allow movement of doctors, nurses and other health personnel during lockdown based on their Identity Card till March 27.
In a letter, the DGP asked SPs/DCPs/DIGs/IGs of all the districts and CP of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar to allow free commuting of health personnel including doctors, nurses of both government and private hospitals during the lockdown.“Doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel are crucial for society in general, more so in current scenario. We are working to develop a web-based system of passes for all exempted category,” read the letter.
“The personnel should be allowed to move during lockdown till March 27 in their vehicles on showing their identity card which has name, designation and photograph, issued by the Government or Private Hospital,” the letter further added.
