Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till Oct 31 with additional relaxations

Chennai, September 30: Amid the rise in corona cases in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has extended the lockdown till October 31st with additional relaxations which aimed at boosting the state economy. In a statement here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said the lockdown has been extended based on the discussions he had with the district collectors, health experts, and senior ministers.

 

 

Palaniswami assured relaxations in the next phase of the lockdown and will focus mostly on containment zones. He said that the essential items and all the relaxations already announced under the state’s unlock guidelines will be in place. As per the new guidelines, the hotels in the state will be allowed to operate from 6 AM to 9 PM. Parcel services will also be permitted till 10 PM. Film shootings also can resume with 100 people.

 

 

The working hours for the hotels and tea stalls have been extended. Even though the state has been unlocked further all educational institutions, cinema halls, tourist places, beaches, and museums will continue to remain closed. He said educational institutions, amusement parks, entertainment centers, museums, and gatherings for religious, cultural, social events will continue to remain closed, and suburban train service will remain suspended. However, the number of domestic flights to arrive at the Chennai airport will be doubled to one hundred per day.

 

The state government has put on hold its earlier order permitting students from class X to XII to voluntarily seek their teachers' guidance from October 1 by going to schools. Suburban trains will not be operated and enforcement of Section 144 will continue. Meanwhile, the state's Covid-19 tally has gone up to nearly 5.90 lakh. 5546 people tested positive on Tuesday. The recoveries have surpassed 5.36 lakh.