R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JUNE 15
With a view to containing COVID-19 in the worst-hit Chennai and its three neighbouring districts – Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has declared ‘complete lockdown’ in these four districts from June 19 to June 30 on Monday.
A 7 page announcement of the Chief Minister came after a cabinet meeting, which included the CM and health experts.
Earlier, the state government was advised scaling down lockdown relaxations in order to mitigate virus spread, a member of an expert committee said following a meeting with Palaniswami.
Dr P Kuganantham, a senior epidemiologist and member of the 19-member expert committee on Covid-19 set up by the government, said: “We have given advice (to the government) on cutting down relaxations and (further) prevent the spread of the virus and the government will take a decision,” as per PTI report.
As per the announcement, the grocery shops, vegetable shops, petrol bunks, and mobile markets can remain open between 6.00 am and 2.00 pm. People driving to the market in their private vehicles will be allowed to travel only within 2 km from their house.
Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India has clarified in a twitter post that they are receiving numerous calls on airport operations during full lockdown and said the airport operations will continue undeterred with existing regulations on Monday.
#Chennaiairport update: We are receiving numerous queries on airport operations during the intense #lockdown (June 19-30) period announced in #Chennai and neighbouring districts. It is hereby clarified that airport operations will continue undettered with existing regulations.
— Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) June 15, 2020
The blanket ban will mean that only essential services and travel for medical emergencies will be permitted in the four districts.
The complete lockdown has been announced under the National Disaster Act of 2005, starting from the midnight of June 19, the lockdown will continue for 12 days until the end of this month.
This decision comes after Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami consulted a panel of medical experts regarding the current situation in Chennai and its neighbouring districts which have seen a growing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths over the last month.
While the areas under the limits of Greater Chennai city police limits in all four districts will be covered under this lockdown, Thiruvallur municipality, Gummidipoondi, Ponneri, Minjur, Poonamallee, Eekadu and Cholavaram in Thiruvallur district will also be covered under the lockdown.
In the Chengalpattu district, Chengalpattu and Maraimalai Nagar towns, Nandivaram, Guduvancheri, and Kattankulathur areas will be locked down. In Kancheepuram, only the areas that fall under the limits of the Greater Chennai City police will fall under the new lockdown norms.
Speaking to the media, the expert panel stated that they had told the state government that further restrictions were required to control the spread of the virus.
The move comes at a time when Tamil Nadu has over 44,600 COVID-19 cases, with Chennai accounting for 31,896 patients. Chengalpattu has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases at 2,882, while Thiruvallur has 1,865 and Kancheepuram has 709 patients. The state has recorded 435 deaths so far, due to COVID-19.
The following will remain functional in these districts:
These relaxations are not applicable on the two Sundays that fall within the complete lockdown period – June 21 and 28. Relaxations will resume from 6.00 am on the following Mondays
- Hospitals, pharmacies, will remain open, ambulances will be allowed to ply on the road.
- Autos, call taxis will be allowed only for medical emergencies.
- State government departments providing essential services like public health, police, etc can be allowed to function with a 33% workforce.
- Central government departments can be allowed to function with a 33% workforce.
- However, any employee from the containment zone need not go to his/her office. They will have to obtain necessary permits from their department.
- Banks are allowed to function only on June 29 and 30 with a 33% workforce. ATMs will continue to be available during this lockdown.
- Public Distribution Shops (PDS) outlets will be allowed to remain open between 8.00 am and 2.00 pm. But in containment zones, PDS outlets cannot be opened. Ration items and the relief amount will be distributed at the doors of those living in containment areas.
- E-passes will be provided for those people requesting to travel out of Chennai only for events like weddings, deaths, and medical emergencies.
- For those coming to these four districts from outside the state through the air, trains, and ships, the present norms will be applicable.
- Hotels and restaurants are allowed to provide delivery services. Tea shops cannot function. Phone orders and delivery of food will be allowed.
- Grocery shops, vegetable shops, petrol bunks, and mobile markets can remain open between 6.00 am and 2.00 pm. People have been requested not to drive to the market in their private vehicles and instead access shops that are within 2 kms from their house.
- Volunteers helping the old age homes and elderly people will be permitted to travel.
- Amma Unavagams and community kitchens for orphans will continue to function.
- NGOs and other organisations helping people can function with the permission from the concerned government official.
- Print and electronic media can function.
- Judges and Courts are also permitted to function.
- Construction companies providing stay for labourers inside the site can function for the next 12 days.
- Employees of industries staying inside or near a company are allowed to function for the next 12 days if they undergo an RT PCR test. Employees are not allowed to travel every day. The continuous process industries and Industries manufacturing essential commodities can function by taking adequate safety precautions.
- The lorries transporting essentials are allowed to travel.
Ration card holders to get Rs 1,000 dole again : TN CM
Also, the Chief Minister announced another round of cash relief of Rs 1,000 to rice ration card holders and unorganised sector workers in Chennai and a string of other nearby areas in Chengelpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Ration card holders and workers with several state welfare boards have already received Rs 1,000 cash assistance in April and subsequent months.
