Amid remaining under the critical state of tackling the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Tamil Nadu government has poured some relaxations on the tight lockdown restrictions letting the resumptions of the private companies, tea stalls, standalone shops, and fuel stations across its territory from May 11. 

The government has issued the order of fresh relaxations on Saturday and these relaxations have come parallel to the government's attempts to resume the operations of TASMAC liquor shops. According to the order, the shops that sell essential commodities like vegetables, groceries, and provisions within the limit of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have been permitted to function from 6 am to 7 pm from next Monday.

The standalone and neighborhood shops that fall under the jurisdiction of the Chennai Corporation can operate from 10.30 am to 6 pm. The essential shops in the state that won't fall under the limits of GCC can function from 6 am to 7 pm while the standalone shops across the state can function from 10 am to 7 pm. In its order, the government has permitted the tea stalls to resume the services.

The order stated that all the tea stalls across the state, apart from the containment zones of the districts, can begin its operations from 6 am to 7 pm from May 11. However, the customers are restricted to consume tea or eat at the tea stalls, rather they are permitted to take parcels and the stalls must ensure to adhere to the social distancing norms and they should be disinfected at least five times a day. 

The government has also consented to resume the operations of the private offices and establishments only in the limits of Greater Chennai Corporation and these establishments can function with 33 percent of the workforce from 10.30 am to 6 pm while the rest of the workforce can continue working from home.

As far as the functioning of the fuel stations is concerned, the government has allowed the petrol pumps to function from 6 am to 6 pm in Chennai and from 6 am to 8 pm in the rest of the state. The fuel stations that lie on the state and national highways can operate for 24 hours. According to the reports, the fresh relaxations have been rolled out by the state government with accord to the guidelines issued by the Central government. 

However, the reports stated that malls, cinema halls, shopping complexes, recreational centers, salons, parks, religious places, and the places of public gatherings shall remain closed until lockdown stays active and the current spell of the lockdown would be ending on May 17. The state government has directed the district collectors, police department, and the corporation commissioners to grip up enforcing the protocols and operating procedures.