Bar bikes after making arrangements: HC

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Covid-19: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik extends lockdown till April 30

BHUBANSWAR: Odisha on Thursday became the first state to extend the ongoing 21-day lockdown by another fortnight till April 30, with CM Naveen Patnaik saying that his cabinet took the hard decision without waiting for the Centre to make a move because saving lives should take precedence over everything else.In a video message to the people, Patnaik said the state would request the Centre to extend the lockdown in the rest of the country by the same duration and keep on hold any plan it might have to resume train and flight services.“While the Centre seems to be in favour of extending the lockdown, too, it has not made its decision public yet,” he said. Odisha intends to test one lakh people soon using rapid testing kits.We will recommend to the government of India to extend the national lockdown up to April 30. At this crucial juncture, one has to decide between protecting the lives of the people and economic activity, said the CM.The Orissa HC has, however, asked the state government not to clamp a “complete ban” on movement of two-wheelers till such time it makes available essential commodities and medicines to all citizens within walking distance of their homes. The court was hearing a PIL on Thursday seeking the release of all vehicles seized by police for violating the lockdown. Patnaik said the discipline shown by citizens and the sacrifices made by them during the lockdown had helped Odisha limit its Covid-19 cases to 44 and just one death so far.