While Tamil Nadu will witness a complete lockdown on Sunday, with the closure of all shops and the suspension of all services barring medical services and milk supply, Chennai will see a partial relaxation of curbs from Monday.
The ongoing total lockdown in Madurai city and its surrounding areas will be extended till July 12. The rules governing the functioning of industries have been eased, and the relaxations will come into effect from Monday.
Last week, the government had said that once the complete lockdown ends in the Greater Chennai Police limits (on July 5), the relaxations that were in place before June 19 would kick in outside COVID-19 containment areas. However, on Saturday, in a partial modification of the announcement, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that restaurants and tea shops would be allowed to offer only parcel and delivery services in the State capital, until further orders. Dine-in services will not be allowed. Restaurants would be allowed to operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and delivery agents must carry the identity cards issued by their respective organisations. Tea stalls would be allowed to function from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., just like vegetable and provision shops.
Except malls, all showrooms and big textile and jewellery shops can function from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“As far as other activities are concerned, what was allowed prior to June 19 will be in place, with regulations,” the Chief Minister said.
Industrial areas
The government has also relaxed the restrictions in industrial areas from Monday. An official press release said IT firms, IT services sector, private companies, industries and export firms can function with 50% staff in areas falling under the Chennai Metropolitan Police limits. Similar relaxations would apply to the Tiruvallur municipality, the Gummidipoondi, Ponneri and Minjur town panchayats, the village panchayats in Poonamallee, the Eekaadu and Cholavaram panchayat unions, the Chengalpattu and Maraimalainagar municipalities, the Nandivaram-Guduvancheri town panchayat, the village panchayats in Kattankulathur panchayat union, and in Kancheepuram district.
The firms in other areas could function with 100% staff strength.
The government said that while an e-pass was necessary for workers who travel between districts, it was not needed for intra-district movement. Companies could use the passes issued by the District Collectors before June 19. No new passes were required, it said.
While the government had earlier said that the complete lockdown in Madurai would end on July 5, it has now extended the shutdown by a week.
Mr. Palaniswami said the total lockdown would remain in place in the Madurai Municipal Corporation areas, the Paravi panchayat, Madurai-East, Madurai-West and the village panchayats in the Tirupparankundram panchayat union.
“Though the infection rate has come down in these areas, the total lockdown has been extended under the Disaster Management Act to bring the disease under total control,” he said.
The essential services already allowed would continue to be permitted during the extended lockdown period.
The Chief Minister said no activities would be allowed in containment zones, and monitoring work would be stepped up during the lockdown.
“The local bodies would ensure the provision of essential supplies to isolation houses and containment zones. Disinfection would be carried out twice a day,” he explained.
Mr. Palaniswami reiterated that the disease cannot be brought under control without the people’s cooperation. “People should compulsorily wear masks, wash their hands and maintain physical distance. They should avoid going outside unnecessarily, and should visit a hospital if they develop symptoms,” he said.
CM submits report to Governor
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday met Governor Banwarilal Purohit and submitted a report on the measures taken to fight COVID-19 to him.
The CM was accompanied by Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam and Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan, among others
