The Tamil Nadu state government is preparing to unveil its package of major plans and protocols for Chennai and its three adjacent districts during the tenure of the enhanced lockdown which would be running for 12 days from June 19 to June 30 and through implementing its major plans, the government hopes for making the lockdown pay off for what it has expected - curb the spread of COVID-19.

The government is planning to grip up its mechanisms to mitigate the spread in these four districts during the spell of the enhanced lockdown as the state would see a sign of flattening the curve of COVID-19 if the spread at these four districts is successfully contained. According to the reports, the government plans to install the measures for aggressive checking, ramping up testing, and contact tracing in Chennai as the city poses a huge challenge for the government. 

In the order issued by Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shanmugam, the government would be rolling out eight measures to subdue the rapid spread of the pandemic in these districts. According to the order, the measures include effective contact tracing at every zone, active identification, and testing, quarantine, and containment management, staying vigil on home isolation of the virus-hit patients, patient management, and analysis of cases.

Testing has been one of the major measures on the fray to curb the spread and during the tenure of the lockdown, the government aims to carry out COVID-19 testing on all symptomatic patients living in these districts to detect the infection and trace the carriers at the early stage to prevent the rapid spread. 

The government hopes to ensure the complete identification of all contacts and carriers and to keep them under quarantine within the span of 24 hours. Along with the health authorities, the Chennai city police would also be on the ground to carry out active identification and testing during the lockdown. According to the reports, the officers would be involved in surveying the surveilling the containment areas in the city.

Also read: 12 days lockdown in Chennai: TN Govt eyes for a strict lockdown - What to note?

Through the measure, they would be identifying people with positive symptoms for the virus in the quarantine houses and containment areas and along with that, the government would be staying vigil on the movement of people to, from, and within Chennai and people must encounter enhanced grounds of checking and the government would be installing extensive measures including surveilling cameras, security posts, and restrictions in the containment areas and quarantine centers to seize the unnecessary movements.

The Chief Secretary has asked the officials of four districts to enforce the lockdown strictly and the police department has warned that the violators would be booked under legal grounds for exiting unnecessarily by defying the ban. The government hopes for effective implementation of the measures through arresting the unnecessary movement of people in these four districts.

Only essential and emergency services would be permitted to function during the lockdown in these districts -Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Thiruvallur. The government-run Amma Canteens would be providing food at free-of-cost in these districts while the rest of the eateries and hotels can only offer parcel services from 6 am to 8 pm as the dine-in services have been barred.

While addressing the reporters on Thursday, Chennai police commissioner AK Viswanathan said that the department has installed 288 checkpoints in greater Chennai limits and strict action would be taken against people who found to have not wearing the masks and people would be booked legally if they have traveled using fake e-passes. He appealed people to adhere to the restrictions. According to the reports, Tamil Nadu has reported 21,990 active cases so far as of Wednesday of which 19,000 cases belong to these four districts. 

Also read: 

COVID-19 in Chennai: Why the city needs more testing to curb the spread?

12 days lockdown in Chennai: TN Govt to distribute financial support of Rs 1,000 at doorsteps! 

Chennai would go under complete lockdown for 12 days from June 19- What do you need to know?