The Tamil Nadu government today announced fresh relaxations in 27 districts including the resumption of metro services and inter-district public transport, as it extended the Covid lockdown in the state by a week i.e. June 28. An official statement from the Chief Minister's office said, state capital Chennai and three districts - Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet have been provided major relaxations as part of the easing of lockdown amid the declining positivity rate of COVID-19.
The relaxations will not be enforced in Coimbatore and 10 other districts that have been categorised as hotspots, officials said.
As per the orders, all essential government departments will be allowed to function with 100 percent attendance and the remaining departments will be allowed to function with 50 per cent of their staff. While, sub- registrar offices will be allowed to function and all private companies can function with 33 per cent of their staff.
Groceries, vegetable stores and meat stalls will be allowed to function from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and shops selling fruits and vegetables on pavements will also be allowed to function.
Restaurants and bakeries will be allowed to provide only parcel food from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and food delivery services will also be allowed during this period.
Besides, the govt has also allowed intra and inter-district public bus services within Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts, categorised as Type III districts but only with 50 per cent of their seating capacity and following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the state government. In these districts passengers would be allowed to travel in taxies, cabs, and auto rickshaws without e-registration. Other than the driver only three passengers in taxis and two in autos are permitted.
Chennai Metro will be allowed to function with 50 per cent of the seating capacity and by following the SOP. In Type 11 districts travel by taxis, cabs, and auto rickshaws are permitted but with e-registration only.
In Type II and Type III districts inter-district travel is allowed for attending marriages but only with e-registration, the statement said and application for this can be made to the respective District collector -- the district where the wedding is scheduled through the website, http://eregister.tnega.org. Only a maximum of 50 persons are allowed to attend weddings.
While, travel for an emergency is only allowed in places like Kodaikanal, Kutralam, Yelagiri and Yercaud only with e-registration.
The state government has not announced any relaxations in Coimbatore, Erode, Myladuthurai, Karur, Tiruppur, Salem, Namakkal, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, The Nilgiris, Tiruvarur districts. These districts which are classified as Type I districts are reporting fresh Covid-19 cases in large numbers and hence no relaxations in these places.
(With agency inputs)
