Chennai: As the daily Covid caseload crossed the 36,000-mark, Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin today announced extension of full lockdown in the State
from 24 May to bring the spread of the virus under control.
Stalin, who held discussions with medical and healthcare
experts and with the all party legislature party leaders,
announced that the present lockdown, which will end on 4 am on 24 May, will be further extended by one week without
any relaxations.
An official release said, in view of the total lockdown from
Monday, all shops will be open in the State till 9 pm today
and from 6 am to 9 pm tomorrow.
Both public and private transport will be operated today and
tomorrow to enable those willing to reach their native places.
It said during the lockdown pharmacies, traditional medicine
shops, veterinary clinics, milk, drinking water ane newspaper
distribution will be allowed.
All shops, including vegetables and grocery shops will be shut
during the lockdown period.
However, meet the needs of the public, vegetables and fruits
will be sold through the horticulture department in vehicles
in Chennai city and in all districts in association with the
local bodies.
The release said essential departments will function at the
State Secretariat–the seat of power–and in districts, while
private firms, banks, insurance firms, IT and ITES staffs were
allowed to work from home.
E-commerce services will be allowed to function from 8 am
to 4 pm and takeaways alone will be allowed in restaurants
and hotels from 6 to 10 am, 12 noon to 3 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm. E-commerce services like Swiggy, Zomato
will also be allowed to operate during this period.
Apart from this, petrol bunks, ATM, transporting agricultural
produce, goods vehicles carrying essential commodites will be
allowed.
People will be allowed to travel from one district to other for
valid medical reasons and deaths with E-registration.
However, e-registration is not mandatory within the district for
medical reasons.
The release from press and media, continuous process industries,
industries manufacturing essential commodities and medical
equipment will continue to function as per the SOPs announced
earlier.
