As Tamil Nadu nears the end of 14 days lockdown which hits its deadline on May 24, PMK founder Dr Ramadoss has slammed the MK Stalin-led government for not effectively implementing the lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. His criticism has come when the state government inches close to convene a meet with the authorities and experts on whether the lockdown must be extended after May 24. 

On Thursday, Ramadoss had flayed the government for failing to implement the lockdown effectively and he further questioned what had stopped the government from enforcing the lockdown strictly across the state to arrest the spread. He unfolded his remarks when the state has been reporting an unabated rate of COVID-19 infections with a surging death toll. 

By comparing the enforcement of the lockdown in neighbouring states, Ramadoss said that it was proved that lockdown would help in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and he pointed out that neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka had effectively imposed the lockdown to curb the spread. 

He further said that the daily infection rate in Tamil Nadu has surged to 35,000 per day from 28,978 on May 10 when the state government announced the 14-day lockdown. He added that it shows that the Tamil Nadu government has not implemented the lockdown effectively. 

The lockdown was imposed for 14 days till May 24 during which the government has suspended various services by keeping the essential services functional. It also has suspended the unnecessary movements of people between the districts and brought in the E-registration system, which has been mandated for travelling between the districts to monitor the movement of the people. 

On Thursday, Tamil Nadu has reported 35,579 fresh COVID-19 cases, 14,52,283 discharges, and 397 deaths. Overall, Tamil Nadu has recorded 17,34,804 COVID-19 cases so far as of Thursday of which 2,63,390 are active, 14,52,283 have been discharged, and 19,131 had succumbed to the viral infection.