As expected, the Tamil Nadu state government has extended the state-wide lockdown till the end of August by carrying forward the existing norms and restrictions till August 31 with pouring additional relaxations in Chennai and across the state, as it braces up for yet another phase of the lockdown amid peaking COVID-19 cases. 

On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has announced guidelines and relaxations for the upcoming lockdown. Some of the major relaxations include increasing the workforces of the industries, resuming the services of the non-essential e-commerce purchases, and extending the timings of the functioning of the permitted services. 

Common restrictions across the state till August 31:

• All Sundays of August will observe a complete lockdown like July.
• Curfew imposed under Section 144, that prohibits the assembly of five or more people in public places, will be in place.
• Train and Flight services will continue to operate with the existing norms. 
• The current lockdown and restrictions in the containment zones will continue until August.
• IT companies and private firms should observe a status quo and would instruct their employees to work from home.
• E-pass is mandatory for inter-district travels and entering Tamil Nadu from other states. 

Relaxations in Chennai, excluding containment zones, from August 1: 

• Hotels, restaurants, and tea stalls are permitted to operate 50% of the dining facility and customers will be allowed to dine in between 6 am to 7 pm whereas the delivery services will be allowed from 6 am to 9 pm.
• Groceries and vegetable shops that are permitted to function between 6 am to 6 pm, are now allowed to operate till 7 pm, so are the other establishments that were earlier functioning from 10 am to 6 pm.
• The small places of worship (in case of temples, the annual income should be less than Rs 10,000) in municipalities and town panchayats will be allowed to open and permit devotees by adhering to the standing operating procedures. 
• All industries, private and export companies that are already operating with 50% of manpower can now operate with 75% of the workforce.

The following services won't be resumed until further orders:

• All religious gatherings, shopping malls, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, and metro trains.
• Tourists spots, recreational centers like theaters, gyms, bars, resorts, beach, auditoriums, and similar places of people gathering.
• Any political, sporting, social, entertainment, educational, and cultural events.
• The places of worship under the limits of Chennai Corporation and big places of worship across Tamil Nadu.
• Flight services, apart from those that are approved by the Union Home Ministry.
• Inter and Intra-state and district public transports.

In his address, the Chief Minister said that the decision of extending the lockdown has been taken based on the inputs from the senior ministers, district collectors, and public health experts. By appealing to the people to extend their co-operation to the government, the Chief Minister stated that further relaxations will be provided based on the existing condition. He further added that the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 will be held in the state based on the guidelines issued by the Center and by strictly following physical distancing norms and other health protocols.

According to the reports, the Tamil Nadu's government's regulations have come a day after the Center has issued the guidelines for 'Unlock 3.0'. The Center has allowed the resumption of gyms and yoga institutes from August 5. However, the Tamil Nadu government hasn't permitted that resumption in the state and it also has mandated the requirement of e-pass for the travel while the Center has removed. 

Earlier, it was speculated that the Tamil Nadu government would resume the inter and intra-districts public transports in the state. However, the government has kept the restrictions on public transportation channels owing to the rise of COVID-19 cases. The current lockdown comes to an end by July 31.

Must-read: Unlock 3.0: Center announces major relaxations! What's permitted and prohibited?