Tamil Nadu is the third state to extend the lockdown with more stringent regulations than the centre’s new guidelines after Madhya Pradesh and Punjab
MUMBAI| On Sunday the Tamil Nadu government announced the extension of the ongoing lockdown till June 30, albeit with more relaxations that included partially opening up public transport and allowing more employees at the workplace.
Tamil Nadu is the third state to extend the lockdown with more stringent regulations than the centre’s new guidelines after Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
CM K Palaniswami while talking to media said the curbs on the mall, religious places, inter-state bus transport, and Metro and suburban rails would continue.
Public transport will resume with reduced services from June 1, but buses will not be operated in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts having the highest concentration of COVID-19 cases in the state. Private stage carriers will be allowed to operate in authorised routes, Palaniswami said.
The CM in his statement said, “To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the curfew is being extended till June 30 under the State Disaster Management Act and as per the Union Home Ministry’s notification.”
While officers will be allowed to function with 50% strength, non-AC restaurants will be allowed to open with 50 per cent cap on the seating of customers.
Tamil Nadu is among the states worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It witnessed the biggest single-day spike of 938 new coronavirus cases on Saturday taking the infection count to 21,184.
The Central had on Saturday announced ‘Unlock 1’, a graded exit plan from the lockdown that allowed, among others, reopening places of religious worship and restaurants.
The state government on Sunday also announced a number of other relaxations, barring containment zones, and these include allowing more employees at the workplace and permitting showrooms and jewellery shops to re-open.
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