As the sequel of surging Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu -particularly in the metro cities, the state government is ramping up the containment measures to tackle the virus spread and besides extending the lockdown, the government has provided more power to the district administrations to strictly enforce the preventive measures and to shut down the places and establishments where the people gather in masses. 

To arrest the spread in Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation has on Friday announced the closures of commercial complexes and retail outlets in crowded marketplaces from July 31 till 6 am on August 9. These establishments will be closed in nine locations in the city including T Nagar's Ranganathan Street, junction from North Usman Road till Mambalam Railway station, the retail shops in the stretch from Purasaiwakkam junction to Bells road will be closed. 

The shops in Jam Bazaar, Habibullah Road, NSC Bose Road, and in Royapuram market will also be closed as per the latest directive from the civic body. The retail outlets in the Redhills market are also banned from functioning and besides the order of closing the outlets, the corporation has also shut down the Kothaval Chavadi market from August 1 to August 9 as part of curbing the footfalls in these areas to contain the pandemic spread.  

On Friday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has extended the lockdown in the state till August 9 with no further relaxations. He has instructed the district collectors, corporation commissioners, and police officials to strictly enforce Covid-19 guidelines and said that they could themselves take a final call on closing areas in their respective districts that are identified to have overcrowding. The government has kept the ban on schools, colleges, theatres, and bars till August 9. 

All cultural, political, and religious events which could result in the gathering of crowds have been banned while the shops across the state can function till 9 pm. The state government has noted that strict action would be taken against retail outlets and commercial establishments if the guidelines to tackle the virus spread are violated and if people are allowed in excess by these establishments. The Chennai Corporation has said that the decision on the closure of outlets was conveyed to the representatives of traders following a meeting with them. 

The strict measures to close the outlets in the crowded marketplaces have come after the state has been reporting a marginal increase in fresh cases in the past couple of days after a decline for the past few weeks. The government has begun easing the lockdown when the cases had decreased and it is again rolling out strict measures as the sequel of the surge in the fresh cases. Chennai, Coimbatore, and Chengalpattu have been reporting more cases, warranting more restrictions from the government. 

There has been no major restriction apart from closing the outlets in the crowded marketplaces and if the cases increase after August 9, we can expect more restrictions from the government. According to the state health department, Tamil Nadu has reported 1,947 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2,193 discharges, and 27 deaths on Friday, and overall, Tamil Nadu has recorded 25,57,611 Covid-19 cases so far as of Friday of which 20,934 are active, 25,02,627 have been discharged, and 34,050 had succumbed to the viral infection.