Chennai: The Tamilnadu government has extended the Covid-19 induced lockdown in the State till 9 August with no additional relaxations.
An official statement said TASMAC bars, hotels, cinema theatres, bars in clubs will remain closed.
Appealing to people to avoid stepping out unless necessary so that the third wave of Covid-19 can be averted, Chief Minister MK Stalin has asked local authorities and police to strictly enforce guidelines.
The Chief Minister has said action will be taken against commercial and other establishments that allow more customers than what is permitted in the Covid guidelines.
Earlier, on 16 July, the State government had extended the lockdown till 31 July while easing some curbs.
While schools and colleges in the State continue to remain closed, Industrial Technical Institutes and typewriting schools have been allowed to function at 50 per capacity. Theatres, bars, swimming pools and zoos are still shut and political meetings and cultural events are prohibited.
According to the order released earlier, inter-state bus transport (private and government), cinema halls, bars/pubs, swimming pools, cultural/political events involving the public, educational institutions, and zoos were asked to remain shut.
Shops, commercial activities will be allowed to function till 9 pm. Earlier they were permitted till 8 pm only.
Hotels, tea-stalls, bakeries, roadside shops, etc can function with 50 per cent capacity till 9 pm.
Moreover, bus services to Puducherry can also resume their operations now, the government notification stated earlier.