Chennai, July 5 (UNI): After a gap of nearly two months, life came back to almost full normal as yet another week of COVID lockdown began on Monday morning with uniform relaxations across Tamil Nadu.
Except plying of inter-state public and private bus services, cinema theatres, bars, swimming pools, social and political meetings, social and recreational events, zoos, schools and colleges, which were barred from operating, life came back to full normal in all districts of the State.
As part of relaxations, amid steady decline in the daily COVID caseload, the state government opened up various facilities, including resumption of intra and inter-district bus services without the mandatory e-pass and e-registration requirements.
This meant that people started travelling to any part of the State from today without any restrictions, including to the tourist spots like the Udhagamandalam, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Pollachi and other destinations, which have geared up to welcome the tourists.
The complete lockdown, which was enforced on May 10, has been extended by every week with phased relaxations.
The present lockdown ended today morning and Chief Minister M K Stalin after reviewing the COVID scenario in the State with medical experts and senior officials, further extended it by one more week till the morning of July 12, while announcing easing of more curbs.
Unlike in previous weeks during which the districts were classified into three categories depending on the COVID caseload, the Chief Minister has done away with that system and announced uniform relaxations across the State.
This included cancellation of e-pass/e-registration system for inter-district movement and operation of intra-district and inter-district public transport (non air-conditioned only) with 50 per cent seating capacity throughout Tamil Nadu.
