With the view of containing and combating the Coronavirus, which has been labeled as a global pandemic, the Tamil Nadu state government is strengthening the mechanisms and preventive measures across the state towards preventing the spread of the virus as the state has currently been housing two positive cases for the pandemic.

The state government has been gripping up the measures to constrain mass people gatherings and as part of that, the Chennai Corporation has announced that it has closed the beaches in the city for public. While addressing the reporters on Saturday, Corporation Commissioner Prakash said that the beaches in Chennai including Marina Beach, Palavakkam Beach, Elliots Beach in Besant Nagar, and Thirvanmiyur Beach would be closed from 3 pm on Saturday.

The commissioner further stated that the beaches would remain closed until further orders. These beaches have been on the list of top destinations for the weekend and it would account for larger footfalls which would reduce the social distancing and with the view of practicing social distancing and avoiding mass gatherings at the high time when the virus gets rampant, the corporation has ordered to close the beaches that come under the Chennai Corporation.

Chennai city has already been going through severe lockdown as the schools, colleges, malls, bars, theaters, tourist spots, companies, and private establishments have been closed and will be closed till March 31st. The closures have brought huge silence to the always busy streets of T Nagar as the area has more shops and complexes that would account for more footfalls. 

Along with shutting down the operations of these establishments, the state government has announced that the bus and metro rail services would be suspended on Sunday and the government has appealed to the people to stay indoors and avoid commuting outside unless for essential services.

Adding to that, the state government has closed its borders with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala till March 31st to restrict the vehicle movements between the borders. However, this ban won't be applicable to the vehicles transporting essential commodities like petrol, diesel, medicines, milk, and vegetables. Earlier this week, the state has reported with two new cases for the virus and they have been currently quarantined and getting treated in the isolation wards installed in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai.