Chennai: The Centre has issued a fresh set of guidelines, which will come into force from today in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These guidelines will remain in force till 31āDecember. According to the regulations, the Centre has allowed States and Union Territories to impose local restrictions, such as night curfew, based on their assessment of the situation. However, they cannot impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation.
Freedom has been given to the State governments to take administrative action against people not following the basic Covid safety measures, while there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods, including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission/approval/e-permit will be required for such movements.Ā The latest set of rules emphasise on āsurveillance, containment, and cautionā.
Closer home, Tamilnadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami too had announced extension of lockdown in the State, with some restrictions and more relaxations.
The fresh relaxations announced were opening of Marina and other beaches for public from 14 December, tourist spots, final year UG classes in all the arts, science, engineering, agriculture, veterinary colleges and other streams, polytechnics, besides UG and PG medical courses from 7 December.
He also announced that for students who would be joining the colleges for the academic year 2020-21, classes would commence from February one, 2021.
He also announced opening of swimming pools for training, exhibition halls for Business-to-Business purposes by following Standard Operating Procedures, auditoriums with 50 per cent seating capacity, social, political and religious congregations subject to a maximum of 200 people from 1 to 31 December for which prior
permission has to be obtained from the District Collectors and from Greater Chennai Police (for Chennai meetings).