Chennai: While announcing the extension of Covid-19 induced lockdown till 30 June on Sunday, the Tamilnadu government gave a detailed list of relaxations and restrictions.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said all places of worship, tourist stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud, shopping malls, amusement parks, auditoriums, resorts, lodges, gyms, swimming polls and stadias would continue to remain closed for public.
No large congregations would be allowed and the prohibitory orders will continue to be in force till 30 June.
Palaniswami also said all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, would remain shut and suburban EMU and Chennai Metro train services too would not be operated till 30 June.
All the restrictions announced during the first four phase of lockdown would continue to be in force in all the containment zones.
While call taxis and autorickshaws would be allowed to ply with a maximum of three and two passengers respectively from today, non-air-conditioned restaurants and tea shops would be permitted to offer dine-in service with 50 per cent seating capacity from 8 June and till then only takeaways were allowed.
Announcing a slew of relaxations in Chennai, except operation of public transport services, Palaniswami said all private companies would be allowed to function with 50 per cent staff, IT and ITES sector could operate with restrictions, non-AC showrooms and major establishments, including jewellery and textiles, could function with 50 per cent staff, by catering to a maximum of five customers at a time from today.
He also said saloons and beauty parlours–without AC–could function by following the government guidelines.
In non-containment areas outside Chennai, industries, IT and ITES could operate with 100 per cent staff, with the work from home option for 20 per cent of them.
For the rest of Tamilnadu, while the ban on inter-State bus services would continue, the Chief Minister allowed resumption of 50 per cent of public transport buses, by classifying the districts into eight zones–with seventh and eighth zones being Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Chennai respectively.
While public transport services could be operated within the zone without e-pass, which was, however, a must for traveling from one zone to the other.
However, no public transport services would be operated in Zone 7 and 8, in view of the growing number of cases.
The Chief Minister also allowed all private establishments to operate with 100 per cent, while exercising the work from home option to the extent possible.
While the State-owned TASMAC liquor shops, one of the major revenue earners for the government exchequer, would function from 1000 hrs to 2000 hrs, e-commerce firms too were allowed to offer delivery service, including non-essential items.
While appreciating the services of conservancy staff, the Chief Minister also announced an honorarium of Rs 2,500 to each of about 33,000 workers working within areas coming under the Chennai Police limits to combat the coronavirus spread.
As part of efforts to prevent spread of COVID-19, when people (with co-morbid conditions) from crowded areas were moved from their place of stay for quarantine within Chennai limits, a cash assistance of Rs 1,000 would be
granted to them while leaving the camps.