Covid-19 | Shopping complexes, malls to be allowed in Chennai, neighbouring districts

Cinema halls and gaming centres to remain shut while places of worship can function adhering to special guidelines.

June 25, 2021 07:28 pm | Updated June 26, 2021 04:58 pm IST - CHENNAI

Shopping complexes and malls  would be allowed to function between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. but eateries in commercial complexes and malls would be allowed to offer only takeaways.

Shopping complexes and malls would be allowed to function between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. but eateries in commercial complexes and malls would be allowed to offer only takeaways.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday evening announced several fresh graded relaxations from the COVID-19 lockdown conditions that will see shopping complexes and malls reopen in Chennai and its surroundings (Category 3 districts) and resumption of inter-district public transport in 23 districts (Category 2) from Monday next. At the same time, he extended the ongoing lockdown till 6 am of July 5.

Additional relaxations have also been offered in 11 districts in west and central Tamil Nadu, where currently a stricter lockdown is in force due to higher infection spread.

In Chennai, Tiruvallur,  Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu, private offices could function with 100% staffing and shopping complexes/malls can function between 9 am and 7 pm. Besides, clothing and jewellery shops would be allowed to function without air-conditioning facilities with 50% of their customer capacity between 9 am and 7 pm in these districts.

Eateries  shopping complexes/malls would be allowed to offer only takeaways and no permission has been granted for cinema halls and gaming centres.

All places of worship, including temples, mosques, churches and dargahs would be allowed but with compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure in these four districts. However, offering of special prayers (archanai), functions and consecration would not be allowed.

In these districts, sports academies and training centres would be allowed to function in open ground but without any audience between 6 am and 9 pm. All shops/establishments already allowed in these districts, the business hours have been allowed till 7 pm.

Relaxations for 23 Category-II districts

In 23 districts classified under Category-II, intra and inter-district bus transport with 50% of the seating capacity without air-conditioning facilities would be allowed to resume by complying with the SOP.

All private offices would be allowed to function with 50% of their staff. Offices of construction companies would be allowed with 50% of their staff. Roadside eateries would be allowed for takeaways between 6 am and 7 pm.

Shops offering service and sale of mobile phones, computer hardware and software and spare parts of electronic appliances would be allowed between 9 am and 7 pm.

Relaxations applicable to Categories II & III

In all except 11 districts (Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Salem, Thanjavur, the Nilgiris, Tiruppur and Tiruvarur identified as Category-I districts), the following relaxations have been allowed.

All government offices, other industries, banks and ATM services and insurance companies would be allowed to function with 100% staff. IT and ITES companies would be allowed only with 50% of their staff.

Gymnasiums and yoga centres would be allowed to remain open during their regular business hours only with 50% of their capacity but without air-conditioning facilities. Museums and entry into protected monuments would be allowed between 10 am and 5 pm.

Housekeeping and security services would be allowed without e-registration.

Relaxations for 11 Category-I districts

In Category-I districts, tea shops would be allowed but only for takeaways between 6 am and 7 pm. In the case of eateries, restaurants, bakeries and e-commerce services, the timing would be between 6 am and 9 pm.

Beauty parlours and salons would be allowed without air-conditioning facilities between 6 am and 7 pm but only with 50% of its customers at a time. All essential government departments and sub-registrar offices would function with 100% staff, while other departments would function with 50% staff.

Schools, colleges, universities and training centres would be allowed to undertake admission-related activities. Government parks and those under the control of local bodies and sports grounds would be allowed for training purposes between 6 am and 9 pm.

Stationery, electrical, footwear, hardware and fancy shops and those offering video, photography and photocopy services are to be allowed between 9 am and 7 pm. Sweet and savoury shops would be allowed between 6 am and 9 pm. E-Seva centres would function as usual.

Service centers for home appliances such as mixies, grinders and televisions and those for serving vehicles and their spares, sale and service of mobile phones, computer hardware, spares of electronic alliances are to be allowed to function between 9 am and 7 pm.

Roadside eateries, establishments for construction materials in these 11 districts would be allowed between 6 am and 7 pm. All essential government departments would be allowed with 100% staff, while other departments would be allowed with only 50% staff.

All private offices and establishments, banks and ATM services and insurance companies would be allowed to function with 50% staff in these 11 districts. "Companies involved in exports and manufacturing inputs for essential commodities would be allowed with 100% staff by complying the SOPs."

IT and ITES companies in these 11 districts would be allowed only with 20% staff. Offices of construction companies would be allowed only with 33% staff. "All kinds of construction activities would be allowed," it said.

Shooting for films and serials would be allowed after undertaking RT-PCR tests but only for a maximum of 100 artists. Post-shooting work would be allowed and maintenance work in cinema halls would be undertaken but with prior permission from respective Tahsildars.

General

The general public would be allowed on all beaches between 5 am and 9 am  but only for walking purposes. Match factories would be allowed to operate with 100% of their staff.

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