As the current tenure of the complete lockdown comes to an end by July 5 - Sunday, Chennai and its adjacent districts would see some relaxations on the restrictions amid the rapid spread of the pandemic.
The Tamil Nadu state government has, on Saturday, announced that the prescribed timings of the essential services would be extended from July 6 in Chennai and the areas that fall under the limits of the Greater Chennai Police.
According to the press release issued by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, the eateries and restaurants in Chennai and the areas under Chennai police can function from 6 am to 9 pm from July 6. Earlier, such establishments were functioning from 6 am to 8 pm under the complete lockdown. In the press release, the government has strictly banned the dine-in services in hotels, rather the restaurants can offer parcel services from 6 am to 9 pm.
சென்னையில் தேனீர் கடைகள் காலை 6 மணி முதல் மாலை 6 மணி வரை பார்சல் சேவை மட்டும் இயங்க அனுமதி.
— PIB in Tamil Nadu 🇮🇳 (@pibchennai) July 4, 2020
காய்கறி, மளிகை கடைகள் காலை 6 மணி முதல் மாலை 6 மணி வரை இயங்க அனுமதி
வணிக வளாகங்கள் தவிர்த்து அனைத்து ஷோரூம்கள், பெரிய கடைகள் காலை 10 மணி முதல் மாலை 6 மணி வரை செயல்பட அனுமதி#lockdown pic.twitter.com/wO8BKCysjO
The food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato can function until 9 pm and the workers of such platforms must ply by possessing valid identity cards from their companies. The order further stated that the tea shops in these areas including Chennai can operate from 6 am to 6 pm and they should only offer parcel services to the customers. Earlier, the tea stalls were closed in Chennai under the ambit of the intense lockdown.
In line with that, the state government has permitted the functioning of the vegetable shops and groceries in these areas from 6 am to 6 pm and they are strictly advised to maintain the social distancing norms. These shops were functioning from 6 am to 2 pm in Chennai in the wake of the complete lockdown. According to the press release, the government has also consented the operations of showrooms like textile shops and jewelry marts from 10 am to 6 am with keeping the existing protocols in place.
சென்னை காவல் எல்லைக்குட்பட்ட பகுதியில் இயங்கும் உணவகங்களில் காலை 6 மணி முதல் இரவு 9 மணி வரை பார்சலுக்கு மட்டும் அனுமதி.
— PIB in Tamil Nadu 🇮🇳 (@pibchennai) July 4, 2020
ஆன்லைன் உணவு நிறுவன பணியாளர்கள் தகுந்த அடையாள அட்டையுடன் இரவு 9 மணி வரை வேலை செய்ய அனுமதி.#lockdown @TNGOVDIPR pic.twitter.com/l5yWYAijmv
However, the resumption of showrooms doesn't apply for the shopping malls and all shopping malls would remain closed. According to the reports, these relaxations won't apply in containment zones and apart from the mentioned services, all other services would function based on the guidelines before June 19.
The complete lockdown has been imposed by the state government in Chennai and its three adjacent districts of Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Chengalpattu on June 19 till June 30 in the wake of peaking COVID-19 cases and the intense lockdown has been extended till July 5. After the deadline, Chennai would see the relaxations as announced by the Chief Minister from July 6.
By announcing fewer relaxations in Chennai, the government has extended the complete lockdown in Madurai till July 12 owing to the sharpest rise in COVID-19 cases in the southern district. According to the reports, all Sundays of July - July 5, 12, 19, 26 would be going through the intense lockdown which will be barring all services by keeping the extremely emergency services in operation across the state.
Must read: TN's Madurai district would go under complete lockdown till July 12!
Comments