Odisha extends lockdown till Apr 30, urges Centre to stop rail, air services till then

The Odisha government on Thursday announced an extension of the ongoing lockdown till April 30, the first state to do so while the Centre weighs the proposal by many states to expand the duration of the shutdown in the face of the burgeoning COVID 19 crisis.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the decision after chairing a meeting of the state Cabinet.

He also declared schools and other educational institutions will remain closed till June 17.

"We have decided to extend the lockdown till April 30. We will also recommend to the Government of India to extend the national lockdown up to 30th April," Patnaik said in a video message soon after the Cabinet meeting he held with five senior ministers through video-conferencing.

Odisha has recorded 44 positive cases of coronavirus so far and one death from the disease.

The unprecedented 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.

While thanking people for cooperating during the lockdown, Patnaik said "I know it involves a lot of sacrifice, hardship and uncertainty but this is the only way to face the situation."