Chennai, June 15 :
Two days after announcing that the state government was not planning an intense lockdown, the Tamil Nadu cabinet on Monday decided to implement total lockdown in Chennai and its neighbouring districts—Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.
The total lockdown will be in place in these four districts from June 19 midnight to June 30. Only shops selling essentials and petrol pumps will be open from 6am to 2pm. People can come to the shops in their own vehicles. However, travel is permitted only within 2km radius of their locality or place of residence.
There has been a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu since May 3. For third day in a row, the state recorded more than 1,900 cases, taking the total number of cases to over 44,000. The death toll in the state stands at 435, with 38 deaths being recorded on Sunday alone.
As the number of cases continue to go up, most government hospitals and isolation centres are running out of beds. The medical expert committee had met Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to discuss on the increasing number of cases and advised the government to go for an intense lockdown to control the spread.
In a detailed press statement, the chief minister said Chennai and its neighbouring districts will go for a total lockdown from June 19 for 12 days until June 30. Essential services, including groceries and vegetable shops, will be open from 6am to 2pm, and restaurants too can open for parcel services through apps like Swiggy from from 6am to 2 pm. However, tea shops will remain closed.
The employees who deliver food ordered through the apps will have to avail identity cards from the employers. Domestic helps will be permitted only for the elderly, differently abled and orphanages. Community kitchens and the Amma Unavagam, run by the government, will function. NGOs can continue to function with permission from the government, according to the government notification.
Rental autos and taxis are not allowed to run. However, they can ply in case of medical emergencies. The state and Central government departments will function with 33 per cent employees. Departments like health and family welfare, local administration, cooperative department, labour welfare, food and consumer welfare will function with a stipulated number of employees. However, employees residing in the containment zones need not report for duty and they will have to inform their department heads regarding the same. PDS ration shops, except those in the containment zones, will work from 8am to 2pm.
Vehicles carrying essential goods will be allowed without any restrictions. The existing rules for people who want to return home from other states and countries will continue to be the same. Besides, those who want to move to other districts within the state for medical emergencies, death and marriage will be allowed with proper proof if they apply for TN e-pass.
