Chennai unlock 2.0 news: Today's updates

Emerging from a 100-day lockdown, punctuated by a brief, fortnight-long exit, the city opened up to brisk business. Stay with us for all the latest updates from Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu.
* Update at 9.40am: India's Covid-19 case tally crosses 11 lakh-mark with highest single day spike of 40,425 new cases & 681 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Total cases stand at 11,18,043 including 3,90,459 active cases, 7,00,087 cured/discharged/migrated & 27,497 deaths, reports ANI quoting health ministry
*With residents crowding Chennai markets, a section of traders in Saidapet has come forward to shut their shops three hours before the time prescribed by the government from Monday.
*With the ruling AIADMK controlling much of the public outreach programmes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, opposition parties had to dip into their kitty to hand out doles to the affected public. Having undertaken the distribution of relief material two months ago since the lockdown, functionaries of political parties are under pressure to find resources to sustain their efforts. This has forced them to slow down or wind up efforts.
*More Covid-19 patients have been discharged in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district compared to active cases in the past four days, according to official data. However, with relaxations in lockdown, officials have been remaining vigilant over a possible rise again.
*With the lockdown affecting physical and mental health of children in the absence of outdoor activity, an NGO in Tamil Nadu has released an art manual to help children overcome lockdown stress.