Former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and ADMK's Coordinator O Panneerselvam has on Saturday issued a statement welcoming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's decision of implementing the lockdown and shutting down the TASMAC outlets across the state to contain the exponential rise of the COVID-19 cases. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has on Saturday announced a complete lockdown in the state from May 10 to May 24 with the view of aiding the government to break the COVID-19 transmission chain.   The government has announced that all shops and establishments, including salons and spas, will stay open from 6 am to 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday (May 8 and May 9) across the state. By issuing the ban on the TASMAC outlets across the state during the tenure of the lockdown, the government has asserted that the Amma Canteens will be functioning.  

Stalin's order of implementing lockdown was welcomed by former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam. In his statement, Panneerselvam said that the complete lockdown will highly aid the state in containing the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also welcomed the government's decision of closing the shutters of the TASMAC liquor outlets and operating the Amma canteens during the lockdown period. 

By citing that the government has permitted all the shops and establishments to function on Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 9 pm, Panneerselvam has appealed to the people not to throng before the shops and follow the government guidelines like wearing masks and observing social distancing while purchasing the essentials. 

The ADMK's Coordinator has urged the state government to establish more mini-clinics, functional for 24 hours, and employ doctors and medical staff to treat the patients and these mini-clinics would reduce the overwhelming hospitalization at the government hospitals. He further urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to ensure the safety of the public and to initiate efforts to reduce the death toll caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He also instructed the government to provide a monthly allowance to doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who are tirelessly working to curb the spread for over a year to honour and recognize their services. He had asked the government to make sure of the adequate availability of hospital beds, vaccines, oxygen, and other medical equipment. Panneerselvam had appealed to the public 

It must be noted that during the course of lockdown, all forms of essential services including milk distribution, courier service, hospitals, labs, and pharmacies, ambulance and funeral service, movements of cargos, movements of vehicles transporting Agri products and oxygen cylinders, fuel stations, and LPG services will be allowed to function during the lockdown. The government has asserted that all Amma canteens will operate across the state. In the press release, Chief Minister MK Stalin has appealed to the people to render their cooperation to the government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.