No lockdown across Tamil Nadu, but strict curbs in Madurai, Theni

CHENNAI: Despite concerns over fresh spike in Covid cases in the districts, the government has decided not to impose intense lockdown in the state, barring Chennai, Madurai and Theni. Theni has been a surprise decision with the district collector announcing the lockdown, while there was no government order issued under Disaster Management Act until Tuesday night. While a few district collectors requested additional restrictions to contain the spread, the government has conveyed in strictest terms that it cannot roll back the relaxations, and that the economy has to be opened up, official sources said.
Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is scheduled to hold a video conference with the district collectors on Wednesday to review the status. The rise in Covid positive cases in certain districts are being attributed to Chennai-returnees, migrant workers and stranded people arriving from other states, countries and movement from other districts and zones. The districts have reported 1,788 imported cases until Tuesday, the majority arriving in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tiruvannamalai, Salem and Kallakurichi, besides people arriving at airports (430) and railway stations (401). A sudden spurt in ILI/SARI cases are also reported in certain districts due to "accumulated accidental spread."
A section in the government is opposed to intense lockdown arguing that livelihood and economy have been severely hit. "The stand of the government is not to impose intense lockdown in any district. The CM’s conference is to review the progress of Covid management measures. As of now, there is no plan to impose additional restrictions even though a few district collectors have asked for it. They are being told that the government has to open up economic activities and cannot roll back the relaxations," a senior government official said.
Sources say the government has also taken serious note of the industries expressing strong concerns over intense lockdown. "A global industry leader said the Chennai lockdown was unfortunate. If it is not allowed to function it will lose whatever attention it has received an investment destination. There were a series of requests to allow plants and offices to continue with the permitted strength given that the industry is limping back to normalcy," said another official. There were apprehensions in the industry that if Japanese investors start de-risking the suppliers, most of them in and around Chennai, by developing alternative vendors elsewhere, it would damage prospects of groups headquartered in Chennai.