Chennai: To arrest the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a fresh set of restrictions from May 6-20.
Top officials of the state, including Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan, had a detailed meeting with DMK leader and chief minister-designate MK Stalin on the COVID situation. The new restrictions allow the government and private offices to function with 50 per cent capacity.
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Rail, metro and bus services will be allowed with 50 per cent passengers only. No stores, except groceries and vegetable shops without air-condition, will be allowed to function with 50 per cent of potential customer capacity till 12 pm. Takeaway services will be allowed in restaurants and hotels while tea shops can remain open till 12 pm. Auditoriums, open-air meetings and cultural events are banned. Only 20 people will be allowed in funerals and 50 people in marriages. The curfew will remain in place on Sundays.
Food ordering online platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato will be allowed to take food from restaurants 6 am - 10 am, 12 pm - 3 pm and 6 pm - 9 pm. Essential services, media, freight and medical emergencies will be allowed around the clock. Night curfew will continue from 10 pm - 4 am.
According to the state's health department, more than 20,000 fresh cases were registered for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. In Tamil Nadu, at least 1.20 lakh people are being treated for COVID-19. More than 18,000 patients have been discharged. In Chennai alone, more than 6,000 fresh cases were registered on Wednesday. Chengalpattu, Coimbatore, Tiruvallur districts registered over 1,000 fresh cases each in 24 hours.
