R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MARCH 16
Day after ordering the closure of kindergarten and primary schools till March 31, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday extended this to all educational institutions including colleges, liquor bars, including clubs, and resorts as part of preventive measures against coronavirus threat.
Announcing this after chairing a review meeting with cabinet colleagues at the Secretariat, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that amusement parks, museums, swimming pools, and gymnasiums would also remain shut.
கொரோனா வைரஸ் நோயை தடுப்பதற்கான முயற்சிகளை ஒவ்வொரு தனி மனிதனும் சுயமாக உணர்ந்து, முழுமையாக மேற்கொண்டு, தமிழ்நாடு அரசு எடுத்து வரும் நோய் எதிர்ப்பு நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கு ஒத்துழைப்பு நல்க வேண்டும்.
– மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர் அவர்கள் வேண்டுகோள் #TNGovt #coronavirusindia #Corona pic.twitter.com/dIbiBmsz1V
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) March 16, 2020
This announcement came a day after the government declared holidays for kindergarten and primary sections till the month-end because of coronavirus outbreak.
The government also imposed restrictions on weddings and banned public meetings, conferences, processions till March 31, an 11-page official release said.
The government also appealed to the general public to avoid places where people converge in large numbers, including places of worship, marriages. Marriage halls and tourist homes, resorts were not to accept the booking, even the marriages already scheduled, it can be held with minimum strength.
The state has so far reported only one positive case of COVID-19 and the 45-year-old engineer from neighbouring Kancheepuram is set to be discharged from hospital as he has recovered from the disease.
The general public is appealed to avoid visiting the state assembly and the secretariat.
Speaker P. Dhanapal announced that visitors to witness the assembly proceedings will not be allowed from Tuesday.
Situation under control in TN: Health Minister Vijayabhaskar
In an attempt to allay the apprehensions of the principal opposition party DMK over the spread of coronavirus in the state, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar listed the efforts taken by the State government as precautionary measures. Certain restrictive actions against non-essential establishments, such as cinema halls and shopping malls have been effected in border districts and said the situation is under control in the state, in the assembly.
The Deputy Floor Leader of DMK Duraimurugan demanded the Chief Minister to hold a video conference with his counterparts in the neighbouring states.
