After taking into account the various advisory meetings the TN CM held with the District Collectors, the recommendations of the expert committee under the Finance department's Additional Chief Secretary, opinions expressed in the advisory meeting with health experts' committee, and the opinions of senior ministers, it was decided that the existing controls and relaxations should be extended till 12 AM, July 31, 2020, all over TN, under the realms of the Disaster Management Act to control the spread of COVID-19.
Coimbatore: After taking into account the various advisory meetings the TN CM held with the District Collectors, the recommendations of the expert committee under the Finance department's Additional Chief Secretary, opinions expressed in the advisory meeting with health experts' committee, and the opinions of senior ministers, it was decided that the existing controls and relaxations should be extended till 12 AM, July 31, 2020, all over TN,under the realms of the Disaster Management Act to control the spread of COVID-19.
The Central government introduced a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020 under the National Disaster Management Act which was also implemented by the state government. Following this, the spread of the pandemic and the livelihood of the people were considered and the lockdown was extended until June 30, 2020, with some relaxations.
At the same time, plans were made to eradicate the difficulties faced by the poor and ration items for the months of April, May and June were provided to 2.01 crore families for free, under the orders of the government. Construction workers and drivers in the unorganised sector were also provided with rice and other additional items.
The Tamilnadu government has also been undertaking various measures to protect the people from the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been providing the people with relief supplies too.
Under the circumstances, on June 29, the team of Medical experts and general health experts met the CM in an advisory meeting. During the meeting, they noted that the disease control measures being undertaken by the government are effective and only due to this the spread of the disease has been in control.
Disease prevention activities and restriction being undertaken in the Containment zones must be intensified, they advised. After analysing the various advisory meetings held by the CM, especially the video conferencing meeting held on June 22, 2020 where the District Collectors expressed their opinions, the recommendations of the expert committee under the Finance department's Additional Chief Secretary, opinion expressed at the advisory meeting held on June 29, 2020 with the General Health experts, and consultations with senior ministers, it was decided that, under the realms of the Disaster Management Act to control the spread of COVID-19, the existing controls and relaxations should be extended until 12 AM, July 31, 2020, all over TN.
Restrictions regarding the following will be in place until further orders from the government:
1. Public visiting places of worship within the city limits and big religious places of worship.
2. All religious meetings.
3. Tourist visits to Nilgiris district, Kodaikkanal, Yercaud and other tourist places.
4. Hotels with lodging facilities, resorts and other hospitality services. However, Medical department, police department and government officials and those travellers from other states and those under quarantine are exempted to avail these facilities.
5. All shopping malls
6. Schools, colleges, training centers, research centers and all other educational institutions. However, online classes can be continued and these can be encouraged.
7. International Air transport will remain closed other than for the work permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
8. Metro/electric trains
9. Theaters, gyms, swimming pools, recreational places, bars, large and small halls, beaches, tourist spots, zoological gardens, museums and other places where the public gather in large numbers.
10. All kinds of social, political, sporting, entertainment, cultural activities, religious, educational, festivals, gatherings and rallies.
11. Interstate bus transport
All the above restrictions will be relaxed based on the intensity of the disease spread.
Complete lockdown without any relaxation will be enforced on all the Sundays in the month of July. This will be applicable all over TN.
Marriages will not be allowed more than 50 members. Similarly funerals and related ceremonies can have only a maximum of 50 participants.
The transport that was permitted in the state between districts by private and public buses will be halted temporarily between July 1, 2020 and July 15, 2020.
Travel inside the district can take place without an E-pass. Travelling to and from other states and travel between districts will require E-pass. Places under complete lockdown can use E-pass issued until June 30 as it will be valid until July 5, 2020. No new E-passes would be issued.
Contractors and those who take part in contracts for government jobs, supervisors of these contract jobs and those who need to meet the officials regarding these jobs will be provided an E-pass by the District Collector.
All areas in TN other than the areas under the Chennai police jurisdiction and except containment zones can from July 1, 2020 undertake the following activities:
1. Small temples in villages with less than Rs.10,000 annual income and small mosques, dargahs, and churches will be permitted to allow people to worship. Social distancing and other disease prevention measures will be undertaken in these places. All places of worship within corporations, municipalities and town panchayats and big places of worship in villages will not be permitted to allow people.
2. Factories and export companies will be permitted to function with 100% employees.
3. IT and IT service companies can operate with 100% employees. However, 20% of employees can be encouraged to work from home.
4. All private companies can function with 100% employees. However, employees can be encouraged to work from home.
5. Other than shopping malls, all showrooms and big shops and textiles can function with 50% employees. However only 5 customers can remain inside the shop at any time. The shops must ensure this and must facilitate social distancing. Shops should not turn air conditioners on.
6. Tea shops, hotels, vegetable shops, and grocery stores are permitted to remain open from 6 AM to 8 PM.
7. TASMAC outlets will function from 10 AM to 8 PM.
8. Restaurants will be permitted to provide food to customers in the shop. However, to facilitate social distancing, only 50% of the seating can be utilised to seat customers. They should not turn air conditioners on.
9. Tea shops will be permitted to utilise only 50% of the total seating for customers.
10. E-commerce businesses can function to supply all kinds of products including non-essential items.
11. Rented cars and taxis can transport only three passengers excluding the driver.
12. Autos can carry two passengers excluding the driver. Cycle rickshaws are also permitted to operate.
13. Fish stalls, poultry shops and other meat and egg shops can operate while social distancing is in place.
14. Factories and establishments in all other places in the state barring the ones that are in places with full lockdown that have employees who travel from places near their own districts must obtain permission from the District Collector and provide the employee with an access card. This card will be acceptable only in the district that the factory/business operates. This cannot be used in other districts.
The following general guidelines should be adhered to during the lockdown period:
1. Under the Criminal Procedure Code 144, no more than five people can gather at a public place at a time.
2. All containment zones will follow the restrictions without any relaxations.
3. All industries and businesses must encourage their employees to work from home and must operate as per the SOPs issued by the government.
The Government has reiterated that only with the help of the people, the spread of the disease can be controlled. The public must therefore mandatorily wear face masks. This is being made mandatory. People must wash their hands with soap and water at homes and places of employment and ensure social distancing.
The Government said the lockdown has been extended to improve the rate of control of the spread of COVID and requested full cooperation from the people.