In wake of a sharp decline in Covid cases, the Tamil Nadu government has on Sunday - April 3 has announced that the state is relaxed with the mandatory Covid vaccinations. In its new order, It has withdrawn the directive making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for the eligible population and the Covid restrictions, but the government has advised the people to adhere to the basic protocols and they would continue to be in place. 

It has instructed that people themselves have to ensure that they wear masks and observe physical distancing. In a statement, the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said, "In continuation of the reduction in Covid-19 cases in the state and lifting of all restrictions which were laid down to prevent Covid-19 by the Government of India, and Tamil Nadu achieving a vaccination coverage of more than 92% and 75% of first and second dose respectively, for those above 18 years, it is decided to withdraw the notification issued under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939." 

The notification of compulsory vaccination was issued in November 2021, ahead of the emergence of the third wave. The withdrawal order has also directed concerned authorities to ensure that only those vaccinated against Covid-19 occupy public places to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The Tamil Nadu Health department has further instructed the authorities to ensure that people are encouraged to adhere to the Covid-19 appropriate behaviours such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and avoiding crowds. 

The notification said that the people who are eligible to get vaccinated can come forward to take the doses. According to the press release from the health department, Tamil Nadu has reported 23 Covid cases, 32 discharges, and zero deaths on Sunday - April 3. Overall, the state has recorded 34,52,910 cases so far as of Sunday of which 275 are active, 34,14,610 were discharged, and 38,025 had succumbed to the viral infection.