The Odisha government hasplaced 54 persons under forced quarantine in state-run facilities for violating the 48-hour shutdown, akin to curfew, imposed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Saturday.The Odisha government, while announcing the 48-hour shutdown from 8 pm on Friday, had warned that people found violating the order would be placed under forced quarantine.The shutdown was imposed after Bhubaneswar emerged as the coronavirus hotspot in Odisha, with 14 of the 20 COVID-19 cases in the state being reported in the city.Of the 54 violators, 45 were sent to quarantine centres in Bhubaneswar while the remaining were placed under quarantine in facilities in Bhadrak, they said.A total of 64 persons have been detained in Bhubaneswar since Friday night, of whom 45 have been sent to quarantine centres, Deputy Commissioner of Police Anup Sahoo said.He said they were booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code for violating the Odisha COVID-19 Regulation, 2020.Not only the main roads, people have also been barred from roaming on the lanes and bylanes of the city, Sahoo said.Nine persons have been sent to quarantine centres for violating the 48-hour shutdown and cases will be registered against them, Bhadrak Collector Gyana Ranjan Das said.Meanwhile, the Cuttack police has registered 13 cases, seized 55 motorbikes and collected Rs 4.35 lakh in fine from persons violating the COVID-19 guidelines in the past 24 hours, an officer said.With the imposition of the shutdown, roads and markets in the three places wore a deserted look as people remained indoors.All business establishments, barring select medicine shops and petrol pumps, have been ordered to remain shut.No restriction, however, has been imposed on the movement of vehicles engaged in essential duties.
