Chennai, May 4 (UNI) As the daily COVID caseload continued
to be on the higher side with the tally nearing 21,000 mark,
including more than 6,000 in Chennai alone, the Tamil Nadu
government late on Monday announced fresh restrictions
from 4.00 AM on May six to 4.00 AM on May 20 to contain
the spread of the virus.
An official release here said fresh restrictions are being imposed
due to 'unavoidable circumstances', while announcing that night
curfew and total complete lockdown on Sundays will continue
across the State until further orders.
It said all grocery and vegetable shops, without air-conditioning
facility, will be allowed to function only upto 12 noon, while all
other stops would remain shut.
Tea stalls across the state, which will be buzzing with activity
right from the morning, are allowed to function till 1200 noon
only, without seating facilities.
While government and private offices will allowed to function
with a maximum of 50 per cent, travel on rail and government
and private buses, metro trains and on taxis are allowed only
upto 50 per cent capacity.
However, essential services like milk and medical would continue
to function as usual, while take away services alone would be
permitted in hotels and restaurants.
Petrol bunks and LPG supply would continue uninterrupted.
The release said fish, poultry and other meat markets will be
allowed to operate only on week days from 0600 hrs to 12 noon,
which they will be completely shut on all weekends--Saturdays
and Sundays.
The government also announced that theatres will remain closed
and social, political, sports, recreational, educational and cultural
events in indoor auditoriums will be totally banned.
The release said only 20 people are permitted to take part in
funerals as against 25 permitted earlier.
In addition to the ban on operating salons and spas in urban areas
within Municipal Corporations and Municipalities, the government
expanded the ban to salons and spas in rural areas.
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