Lockdown extended in Tamil Nadu: restrictions and dates
The Tamil Nadu government announced an extension to the general lockdown in the state until the end of August in its attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The Tamil Nadu government announced on Thursday that complete lockdown in the state will be extended until 31 August with inter-state and intra-state travel remaining banned in an effort to eliminate the spread of Covid-19 in the state.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami revealed that a highly strict lockdown will be imposed with further restrictions on Sundays: “The lockdown extension is done based on views expressed by the district collectors during a video conference on Wednesday and with public health experts on Thursday, also in consultation with the senior ministers".
Lockdown restrictions in Tamil Nadu
As per the new orders, private offices and industrial establishments in non-containment zones of Chennai can run their business with 75 percent of their staff. Delivery of goods including non-essential items will be permitted starting 1 August. Dine-in restaurants, cafes and grocery stores can operate between 6am and 7pm at 50 percent seating capacity while maintaining social distancing and safety protocols. Air-conditioning units must be switched off at all times while takeaway services are permitted from 6am to 9pm.
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Shopping malls, schools, colleges, training and coaching institutions, air travel, rail services, gyms, swimming pools cinemas and theaters, bars, zoos, and museums will remain closed, in addition to the prohibition of social, political, cultural, sports and academic activities.
The government will allow people into small places of worship (mosques, churches, and temples) in municipalities with an annual income of less than Rs10,000 while “prominent places of worship and such places under corporation limits would not be allowed [to open for worship],”,” the chief minister said.