Following the official announcement, Chennai is now ready to open almost entirely. From temples to inter-district travel, many restrictions have been relaxed from last month, and according to the locals, the move might spell for troubles down the line.
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Chennai:
With cinema theatres and suburban trains closed in the city, certain high-risk areas remain shut. However, metro facilities and malls finally reopen after many months. Many locals have expressed feelings of frustrations during the months of lockdown, but people should exercise caution, said Mala Rajender, a local.
“I have a feeling that there might be a spike in cases with everyone going out. People are tired of being stuck at home, and so they will take this as an opportunity to finally step out. However, even if everyone follows mask and social distancing guidelines, there still is a chance for infection, and a following rise in cases,” she said.
For businesses, this marks the reopening of many offices in full capacity. Many businesses were seen reopening shutters and sanitising surfaces in the wake of the announcement. Following the closure of several physical stores over the last six months, this move will offer them a much-needed breath of air.
“The government is in a catch-22 situation. The economy has suffered during the shutdown, and recoveries must be made sooner rather than later. Like Western countries, who have accepted Covid-19 to be a part of life for a long time, we also must understand that. It is important for local businesses to return to their former functioning,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, a social entrepreneur.
Despite the government stating that working from home is suggested where necessary, many businesses are ready to reopen. “Rental costs will remain the same. There will be an increase in businesses across the city, because of the hiatus the city was placed under for the last six months. However, there must be adequate safety mechanism set in place. The more rules relaxed by the government, the better for us to remain safe,” said Thejaswi Suresh Bala, a businessman.
Is the local collective consciousness ready then, for this change? Yes and no, says Rajender. “We’ve lived our lives following these new rules for six months now. While there are people who are safe and follow the rules, many are still under the mindset that they will not be affected by this virus. That needs to change, for all our safety,” she said.