After getting caught up with the controversy over re-commencing the operations of the TASMAC liquor shops across the state amid the growing numbers of the COVID-19 affected cases, the Tamil Nadu state government has issued a fresh directive on Tuesday in which it has decided not to open the liquor shops in Chennai after the city has emerged as the active and biggest hotspot for the virus spread in the state.

However, the government has clarified that the fresh order won't apply for the liquor shops in the rest of the districts and the shops can resume the operations on May 7, as decided earlier. On Monday, the state government has rolled out the contradictory move of re-opening the liquor shops in the state while recording sharpest rises in the number of cases affected by COVID-19. 

The government claimed that by opening the liquor shops in the state, it would reduce the movements of Tamil Nadu people to the neighboring states to buy liquor and the state's decision was followed by the similar move taken by the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka towards resuming the liquor shops, which are one of the major revenue channels to the governments. 

However, the decision of the Tamil Nadu government has strongly been criticized by the opposition parties in the state and the leaders warned the government that it would increase the infection and fatality rates in the state due to the virus. Following intense criticism, the state government has said that the liquor shops won't be commenced in Chennai. 

Chennai has emerged as the biggest hotspot for the virus spread and as of Monday, the city has reported 1,742 cases of which 266 were reported on Monday alone and the city contributes more than 60% of the total affected cases in the state, which currently stands at 3,550. The Koyambedu market has become the fresh epicenter after most of the cases tested positive in recent days had a direct or indirect connection with the market.

The liquor shops across the state, except in Chennai, would be resuming its operations from May 7 and the shops will be functioning from 10 am to 5 pm, with certain restrictions and it won't be applicable for the shops that reside on the containment zones and these shops would remain closed. The bars are not permitted to open. As per the restrictions, the customers and the shop employees should maintain at least six feet of social distancing between each other, and not more than five customers can be inside the shop at a time.

Also read: TN Govt opens TASMAC amid the outbreak - Revenue over welfare?