R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APRIL 24
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has clamped complete lockdown in five cities from Sunday. The complete lockdown would be in force from 6 am. To 9 p.m. in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Salem and Madurai Municipal Corporations from Sunday (April 26), says a 4 page release issued here on Friday.
சென்னை, கோவை, மதுரை ஆகிய 3 மாநகராட்சிகளிலும் ஊரடங்கு முழுமையாக 26.4.2020 காலை 6 மணி முதல் 29.4.2020 இரவு 9 மணி வரை அமல் படுத்தப்படும்.
சேலம், திருப்பூர் மாநகராட்சிகளில் ஊரடங்கு முழுமையாக 26.4.2020 காலை 6 மணி முதல் 28.4.2020 இரவு 9 மணி வரை அமல் படுத்தப்படும். #TNLockdown
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) April 24, 2020
The Chief Minister took the decision after consulting with the medical professionals on coronavirus spread in the state on Friday morning and announced further tightening the lockdown according to the Disaster Management Act 2005.
In a statement issued here, Palaniswami said in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai the complete lockdown will be implemented between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 26 to 29.
In case of Tirupur and Salem the complete lockdown will be between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April 26 to 28. However, in rural areas, the lockdown will continue under existing norms.
The Chief Minister also announced that sanitisation of containment zones will be done twice a day in the state.
He said only work from home is permitted for software companies and other private companies should not function in these five cities.
The Chief Minister also ordered the closure of registration department offices while allowing only the following to function:
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Hospitals, diagnostic test labs, pharmacies, ambulance and hearse services;
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Essential services departments in the state secretariat, health, revenue, disaster management, electricity, milk, water supply departments;
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Government run Amma Canteens, ATMs;
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Old age homes and orphanages;
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Community kitchens run by district/local administrations;
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Service organisations for the benefit of poor with government permission and
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Vegetable markets, mobile vegetable shops will run subject to regulations.
On Friday, the death toll in Tamil Nadu due to Covid-19 went up to 21, with one senior citizen breathing her last in Madurai, said officials.
Those who violate complete lockdown will be punished, their vehicles will be seized by the authorities, the Chief Minister said.
