New Delhi: The coronavirus-related lockdown in Tamil Nadu has been extended until September 30, but with substantial relaxations, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced on Sunday.
Under relaxed rules, there will not be a full closure on Sundays in September. The electronic pass system for interdistrict travel has been discontinued, but the electronic pass is mandatory for people coming from other states and foreign countries. All places of worship, hotels and resorts have been allowed to reopen. Places of worship can be open to the public with a limited number of people at a time. Tourists will be allowed into Ooty and Kodaikanal with an electronic pass purchased from the district collectors.
In-state bus service can resume from September 1, while the Chennai metro can resume operations from September 7. Government and private offices can work with 100% staff attendance, but working from home is highly recommended.
Large showrooms and shopping centers have been allowed to reopen, respecting the guidelines issued by the Ministry of the Interior. Shops and restaurants can be open until 8 pm. Hotel and restaurant parcel services can operate until 9 pm.
The reopening of schools, colleges, movie theaters, suburban trains, swimming pools, amusement parks, beaches, zoos, museums, tourist places, until new orders are prohibited.
The state government’s decision takes on significance from the Center’s Unlock 4 guidelines which state that no local lockdown can be imposed anywhere outside of the containment zones.
Tamil Nadu’s overall Covid-19 count reached 4.22 lakh on Sunday with 6,495 new cases detected in the last 24 hours. There are 52,721 active cases in the state with a total number of recoveries of 3.62 lakh. 94 more virus-related deaths in the past 24 hours brought the state’s death toll to 7,231.
Until September 30, the state will see prohibition orders under section 144 CrPc, closure of educational institutions and restrictions on containment zones without any relaxation.
Filming in the film industry has been allowed to run with a maximum of 75 people but no audience.
Parks and play areas will reopen for physical exercise and sports training purposes. However, no spectators would be allowed on the playgrounds. All stores across the state, including those in Chennai, will stay open until 8pm. A new quarantine and testing protocol would be issued for national and international air passengers and train passengers coming from out of state. Chennai airport could receive 50 daily flights compared to the current 25. However, the status quo will continue at Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Salem airports.
Palaniswami appealed to people to strictly adhere to the government’s warning about wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing.
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