Chennai: Amid significant spurt in number of corona cases, which has breached the 1.10 lakh barrier, besides claiming 1,510 lives, normal life returned in Chennai and three neighbouring districts following easing of lockdown measures from today.
While announcing the lockdown (6.0) from 1 to 31 July to tackle the virus spread, Tamilnadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palansiwami had announced that the intense /complete 12-day lockdown from 19 to 30 June was extended till 5 July and that more relaxations would come into force from today in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.
In line with his announcement, the four districts emerged from total lockdown today, barring in containment zones, as life started limping back to normalcy.
However, public transport services were banned across the State till 15 July as the corona cases were on the rise. Rail, air, suburban EMU and Chennai Metro train services too were shut till 31 July, along with inter-state transport services.
All places of worship, tourist stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud, shopping malls, amusement parks, auditoriums, resorts, lodges, gyms, swimming pools, bars and stadias continued to remain closed for public.
Despite spike in the number of cases–68,254 so far–life was new normal in Chennai as traffic signals started blinking, more number of vehicles plied on the roads, including autos, taxis and cabs.
As police anticipate increase in vehicle movement in view of easing of curbs, special teams were force to regulate traffic at various intersections and on arterial roads that would witness heavy traffic flow.
A majority of the shops were open across the city, including leading textile and jewellery chains. hough all educational institutions, including schools and colleges continued to remain closed, all banks, central and state government government offices functioned along with private firms and IT and ITES companies functioned with 50 per cent strength in the city.
