As the sequel of the sudden surge in the Covid-19 cases across the state, the Tamil Nadu government has poured major restrictions in Covid-19 hotspot districts including Chennai and Coimbatore. The fresh restrictions have come weeks after the sharp decline of cases and gradual relaxations of the lockdown. Tamil Nadu was one of the worst affected states in India by the horrendous second wave of the pandemic, warranting the DMK government to impose lockdown and restrictions to arrest the spread. 

Chief Minister MK Stalin has imposed a complete lockdown in the state on May 10, days after he assumed office. The lockdown and restrictions were lifted up at the backdrop of declining cases. The government has segregated the districts into three tiers on the scale of the severity of the pandemic. Two months after a significant fall in cases, the government has eased the restrictions and resumed most of the services across the state amid the predictions of the possible third wave of the pandemic. 

While the state was driving towards normalcy, the pandemic spread has crippled Tamil Nadu's fight against it as the Covid-19 infections are spiking for the past few days, levying a fresh challenge to the state government to curb the spread. Tamil Nadu has witnessed fresh cases going close to 2000 late last week and while the state government has extended the lockdown till August 9 with no further relaxations, it has in fact banned some of the services in the districts that are identified as hotspots including Chennai and Coimbatore. 

The fresh restrictions will be in place till August 9 post which the government would take a call on extending them after taking stock of the Covid-19 situation in the state. According to reports, the Greater Chennai Corporation has announced a slew of restrictions in the city to contain the virus spread. The restrictions include shutting down the commercial complexes and retail outlets in the crowded market places in nine locations including T Nagar and Purasaiwakkam. 

These places were identified to be hosting major footfalls in the city and had warranted the civic body to close them in the current period of the lockdown. All the restaurants in the Coimbatore district can function at 50% occupancy from 8 am to 5 pm. The eateries in the western district can carry out parcel services from 5 pm to 9 pm as dine-in facilities are barred. As per the latest restrictions from the state government, all markets across Coimbatore are only permitted for wholesale business and only 50% of shops will be allowed to function, based on a rotational basis. 

As the Tamil Nadu government has authorized the district administration to impose restrictions in their respective districts based on the Covid-19 situation, Coimbatore District Collector Sameeran has on Sunday announced that additional restrictions will be imposed in the district from August 2. Besides restricting the dine-in facilities in the restaurants, the district administration has also said that excluding essential goods shops such as those selling milk, medicine, and vegetables, the rest of the shops will be functioning only from 9 am to 5 pm. 

As per the order from the Coimbatore district administration, all non-essential goods shops must remain closed on Sundays in 100 Feet Road, Cross Cut Road, Gandhipuram, Saramedu Road, Thudiyalur Junction, and Rice Mills Road, and these areas fall within the limits of Coimbatore Corporation. Adding to these restrictions in Chennai and Coimbatore, the Tamil Nadu government has banned the entry of devotees to temples of Lord Murugan and Amman across the state from August 1 to 3. 

Tamil Nadu would usually mark Aadi celebrations at the start of August and the government has banned the celebrations this year too in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has permitted priests to carry out usual poojas and congregations without devotees. Tamil Nadu is not alone in the battle as the entire country has also been reporting a surge in Covid-19 infections amid the vaccination campaign. The health experts warn that if the cases are in the upward trend, it would be the start of the third wave of the pandemic. 

According to the state health department, Tamil Nadu has reported 1,990 fresh cases, 2,156 discharges, and 26 deaths on Sunday including 175 and 230 cases from Chennai and Coimbatore respectively. Overall, the state has recorded 25,61,587 cases so far as of Sunday of which 20,524 are active, 25,06,961 have been discharged, and 34,102 have succumbed to the viral infection.