R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 22
As the spreading of virus is unabated for the past three weeks, the Tamil Nadu government has extended the lockdown for one more week with tightening the noose.
Due to this, the COVID-19 induced lockdown will be relaxed on Saturday and Sunday to enable the people to stock enough groceries and other essentials on Saturday (May 22) and Sunday (May 23), the vegetable and grocery shops will be allowed to open from 6 am to 9 pm.
In the interest of those who are moving to their home towns, private and government buses will be allowed to operate on Saturday and Sunday.
சில மாவட்டங்களில் #COVID19 பரவல் குறைந்திருந்தாலும் பல மாவட்டங்களில் தொடர்ந்து அதிகரிக்கிறது.
வல்லுநர்கள் – சட்டமன்றக் கட்சிகளுடனான ஆலோசனைகளின்படி ஒரு வாரத்திற்கு தளர்வுகளற்ற #Lockdown அமல்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. #COVID19 கட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்ட தமிழகம் அமைய மக்கள் ஒத்துழைக்க வேண்டும். pic.twitter.com/Rk9j257S5N
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 22, 2021
Only pharmacies, country drug stores, veterinary pharmacies, milk supply, drinking water supply and supply of newspapers will be allowed during the intensified lockdown.
Vegetables and fruits will be supplied to the public through the horticulture department in Chennai and through vehicles in all districts.
ஊரடங்கு! pic.twitter.com/oeemQNMDBA
— Vaitheeswaran Balasubramanian/ வைத்தீஸ்வரன் (@vaithee888) May 22, 2021
From Monday (May 24, 2021) all shops except those specifically mentioned will not be allowed to function. Vegetables and fruits will be sold through the mobile vending units of the state horticulture department, said a 7-page release from the Chief Minister M K Stalin.
Chief Minister M K Stalin held meetings with a panel of public health experts and doctors followed by a meeting with the all-party representatives group regarding the COVID-19 situation.
The meeting came days before May 24, when the lockdown currently in force was scheduled to end. In the meeting, discussions were held on the COVID-19 situation, cases and the steps to be taken to bring the pandemic under control in the state.
While the expert panel recommended a two-week long extension of the lockdown, the MLAs group also encouraged the same. Following this, the state government announced that a stricter lockdown will be in place for a week from May 24.
The state had tested 1,74,112 samples on Friday.
The number of persons undergoing treatment for COVID-19 as of Friday evening in Tamil Nadu is 2,74,629.
