Chennai: Tamilnadu government on Friday night announced extending the lockdown by another week ending 6 pm on 5 Julywith several relaxations in Chennai and surrounding districts where Covid-19 cases have come down.
Shopping malls, jewellery stores, textile showrooms and places of worship will be allowed in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts.
Additional relaxations have also been offered in 11 districts in west and central Tamilnadu, where currently a stricter lockdown is in force due to higher infection spread.
The relaxations 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.
As per the fresh regulations announced by Chief Minister M K Stalin, malls have been allowed to stay open from 9 am to 7 pm in Chennai and the adjoining districts. Textile and jewellery shops can also open in these districts.
The government, however, has said these establishments can host customers up to 50 per cent capacity and must not use air-conditioners.
Restaurants can only serve takeaway orders and cinema halls in malls will continue to remain closed.
Shops in these districts that got a go-ahead to open earlier can now operate till 9 pm.
Districts in type 1 — Coimbatore, Nilgris, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai — are those reporting a severe spread of the disease. Those in type 2 — Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Kanniyakumari, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Perambur, Pudukkotai, Ramanathapuram, Ranipet, Sivaganga, Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Tiruppatur, Tiruvannamalai, Thoothukudi, Tiruchirapalli, Villupuram, Vellore and Virudhunagar — have moderate spread. Four districts — Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and Tiruvallur — have low spread and are therefore in type 3.
The government also gave additional relaxations to category II and category III districts, including permission to government offices, banks, insurance companies and ATM services, SEBI and capital and debt market services and industries to function with 100 per cent workforce.
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.