Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai on strict lockdown from April 26 to 29

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Friday issued a statement regarding the current status of COVID-19 in the State and the action paln for the upcoming days to combat the pandemic.

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Friday issued a statement regarding the current status of COVID-19 in the State and the action plan for the upcoming days to combat the pandemic.

In the statement, the CM noted, "While the disease spread has come into control in rural and urban areas, the densely populated areas in the cities still face a possible chance of spreading the infection at a rapid pace. According to the health department, chances of the disease spread are estimated to increase in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. Discussions conducted with the public health department experts have revealed that only tighter lockdown norms can control the spread of the disease."

Therefore, taking the present situation and the expert opinion of the public health department into consideration, the government has decided to tighten the lockdown norms in certain Corporations in TN, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the statement said. 

The following conclusions were made by the government.

Complete lockdown will be implemented in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai Corporations from April 26, Sunday 6 AM to April 29, Wednesday 9 PM.

In Salem and Tirupur Corporations complete lockdown will be implemented from April 26, Sunday, 6 AM to April 28, Tuesday 9 PM.

During the lockdown period only essential services will be permitted.

Hospitals, testing labs, medical shops, ambulance and mortuary vans will be permitted as a part of medical operations

Amma Unavagams and ATMs will function normally.

Departments including the Secretariat, Health and Family Welfare department, Police department, Revenue Department and Disaster Management department, Electricity department, Aavin, Local bodies and Department of Drinking water supply will function with the requisite number of employees.

And, other Central government offices and banks will function with the necessary 33% staff.

Home delivery of food from restaurants for orders placed over phone will be permitted. Services for the aid of the aged, differently abled and destitute homes will be allowed to function.

Community kitchens that are run by the District Administration, Social welfare department and the local bodies that function for the benefit of the destitute will continue to function.

Charitable organisations and other volunteer organisations that are helping the poor can function with proper permission from the concerned official authority.

Koyambedu and other wholesale vegetable markets will function within the guidelines. Only mobile vegetable and fruit vendors are permitted to function on these days. All other approved sellers cannot function on this day.

All other work other than those specified will be banned from functioning on the said days. All other government offices, including the registration office will not function. IT employees can work from home. Other private organisations will also not function.

All other Corporations other than those mentioned will function as per the existing lockdown norms.

In this time period isolation zones will come under severe confinement. Fumigation activities will be undertaken twice a day in these areas.

People movement in other places in the district will be curbed entirely. Violation of these rules will result in the vehicle being confiscated and strict action against the violators.

Finally the CM requested the people to cooperate and said, "Since COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, hence people are requested to adhere to the lockdown rules and extend their support and cooperation to the government to make this effort a success."

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