The year-end is approaching and Chennai is going to miss its typical welcoming of a New Year as the residents are banned to flood the beaches and coastal lines during the New Year celebrations in light of the Covid-19 guidelines and to strengthen the crowd management measures over the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. Though Tamil Nadu hasn't reported the Omicron cases, the government is tightening up the containment measures as the variant has been making its move to several states. 

On Monday - December 13, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that public gatherings will be banned at all beaches in the state on December 31 and January 1. The announcement has come after Chief Minister MK Stalin had held a review meeting of the pandemic situation in the state. The government has said that the Covid-19 restrictions will be extended till December 31 in the state and that the existing restrictions on social, cultural, and political meetings would stay in place. 

An official release quoting the Chief Minister said, "There will be no access to people to all the beaches on December 31, 2021, and January 1, 2022, as part of the measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19." With the order, the major beaches and coastal lines including Marina Beach would go deserted during the year opening. The Monday meeting had also announced certain relaxations including relaxing the rotational system in the school. 

The Chief Minister has announced that classes for students from classes 6-12 and higher education institutions will no longer be held on a rotational basis but will be normal from January 2022. The government has also permitted swimming pools to function. With the view of addressing a shortcoming in learning skills by school-going students and considering their future, classes 6-12 will no longer be held on a rotational basis from January 3, 2022, but it will be normal. 

The government has reiterated its appeal to the public to strictly adhere to safety precautions issued by the health department, like wearing masks, observing social distancing, and avoiding gathering at public places. The state health department has asserted that Tamil Nadu has reported zero Omicron cases till now and enhanced the security parameters and guidelines for the travelers who arrive in the state from the countries that are at risk with more Omicron cases.