Though Tamil Nadu is going through a tight and complete lockdown for a week from May 24 to May 31 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced major relaxations in the state with the view of the interest of the people. The relaxations have come when the government said that the week-long lockdown would have no relaxations apart from the extremely essential services.

The government had ordered to close the grocery and vegetable shops across the state and deployed measures to supply fruits and vegetables at the doorstep of the people through the state's horticulture department in collaboration with the municipal administration department. The state had suspended the rest of the services including the ration shops. 

In the wake of the complete lockdown with no relaxations, several people had thronged before the shops to stock up the essentials. On Monday, Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced relaxation with the view of the interest of the people. According to reports, relaxation includes the resumption of the ration shops to supply the essential commodities to the people. The resumption of the ration shops has come to effect from Tuesday - May 25 and it will stay in place till May 31.  

As per the order, the ration shops have begun functioning from Tuesday and the shops will remain open from 8 am to 12 pm during which the people can visit the shops to buy essential commodities like rice, sugar, and wheat. The government has said that it has decided to open the ration shops by understanding the situation of middle and low-income people. The government has also instructed the people to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols at the ration shops.

Along with resuming the ration shops, the government has also allowed the movement of the banking staff on two-wheelers during the week-long lockdown. The state government has informed the State Level Bankers Committee Tamil Nadu about the relaxation and it has clarified that the permission will only be given if the banking staff carries an authorization letter from the bank. 

The order to permitting the banking staff on two-wheelers has come after the Bankers Committee has met Additional Chief Secretary Atulya Mishra IAS to obtain clarification of the government's directive to the staff of essential services during the lockdown. The order was in line with allaying the confusion raised over the lockdown rules across the state. 

In its order on May 22, the Greater Chennai Corporation has said that all the employees of the private companies, banks, IT, and Insurance companies have to work from home. The order has perplexed the Bankers Committee post which it has approached the Additional Chief Secretary. It was then clarified that the banking staff can travel to their workplace on two-wheelers during the lockdown. 

The banking staff has to carry the authorization letter from their respective banks during their travel. The state government has allowed essential services like pharmacies, milk, water, and newspaper distribution, ATMs, and fuel stations to function during the lockdown while it has restricted the functioning of the hotels in the specified timings. 

On Monday, Tamil Nadu has reported 34,867 fresh COVID-19 cases, 27,026 discharges, and 404 deaths. Overall, the state has recorded 18,77,211 COVID-19 cases so far as of Monday of which 3,01,580 are active, 15,54,759 have been discharged, and 20,872 had succumbed to the viral infection.