Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday announced that the ongoing lockdown in the state has been extended till August 31. The decision has been taken after a meeting with the district collectors and health experts, with the CM also announcing that a complete lockdown will be observed across the state on all Sundays.
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has also released a list of guidelines as part of the upcoming lockdown extension in the state during the Unlock 3 phase, which are as follows:
Restaurants and tea shops will be allowed to function with a 50% occupancy from 6AM to 7PM, and the take-away counters and delivery services permitted between 6AM and 9PM. Provision shops and grocery stores have been given one hour additional time to be open from 6AM to 7PM in comparison to the earlier timings which were 6AM to 6PM. Other shops will be allowed to carry out their business between 10AM and 7PM.
Schools and colleges will remain closed across the state. Commercial complexes, shopping malls and temples will continue to remain closed. Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, amusement parks, bars, tourist spots, parks, museums will continue to remain closed. Tourism in Nilgiris, Kodaikkanal, Yercaud and other such tourist spots will not be allowed as earlier.
75% employees can work in production centres and private concerns that do not fall in the containment zones, the CM's latest directive states. Furthermore, the TN government has granted permission for essential and non-essential goods delivery via online and e-commerce from Aug 1.
Operation of public and private buses within the State and inter-state continue to remain shut down till August 31. There is no new change in regard to issuance of e-pass as it is mandatory for travel within inter-state and intra-state. Existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) will continue in regard to travel by train and journey by air. Independence Day celebrations will be carried out across the state on August 15 by following the guidelines issued by the government as regards to social distancing, wearing of masks, etc.