As the daily COVID caseload crossed the 36,000-mark, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced extension of full lockdown in the State from May 24 to bring the spread of the virus under control.
CM 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 0400 hrs on May 24, 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 2100 hrs
today and from 0600 hrs to 2100 hrs 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 and newspaper distribution will be allowed. All shops, including vegetables and grocery shops will be shut during the lockdown period.
However, to 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 0800 hrs to 1600 hrs and takeaways alone will be allowed in restaurants and hotels from 0600 to 1000 hrs, 1200 noon to 1500 hrs and 1800 hrs to 2100 hrs. 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 commodities 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.
