A day after the Centre announced lockdown exit plan 'Unlock 1', the Tamil Nadu government today extended the lockdown till June 30. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, however, allowed partially opening up of public transport services.
Under the new rules from tomorrow, private companies are also allowed to have more employees in their premises. IT companies and IT-enabled services can function with 20% employees, upto a maximum of 40 persons.
No relaxation has been given to religious places, inter-state bus transport, and Metro and suburban train services. Pubic transport will resume with reduced services from June 1, but buses will not be operated in Chennai, Kancheepurm, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts having the highest concentration of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Shopping malls will remain shut across the state during lockdown.
Taxis, autorickshaws can ply; limited dine-in from June 8, 2020
Tamil Nadu is among the states worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It witnessed the biggest single-day spike of 938 new coronavirus cases on Saturday taking the infection count to 21,184.
The Centre had on Saturday announced 'Unlock 1", a graded exit plan from the lockdown that allowed, among others, reopening places of religious worship and restaurants.
In a statement, Mr. Palaniswami said that in Chennai:
1) All private companies would be allowed to function with 50% staff
2) IT and ITES sector could operate with certain restrictions
3) Non-air-conditioned showrooms and major establishments, including jewellery and textiles, could function with 50% staff but could cater to a maximum of five customers at a time from June 1.
4) Salons and beauty parlours have been allowed to operate without air-conditioning facilities and in line with the Standard Operating Procedures to be issued by the government separately.
Rest of Tamil Nadu:
In non-containment areas outside Chennai, industries, IT and ITES have been allowed to operate with 100% staff. “However, work from home option is to be encouraged for 20% staff,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
All private establishments could operate with 100% staff with work from home options “encouraged to the extent possible”. Large jewellery and textile shops could operate with 50% staff with five customers at a time and by adhering to physical distancing norms.
“TASMAC (liquor outlets) and other shops can operate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.,” the Chief Minister said.
Besides, e-commerce firms would be permitted to offer delivery service, including for non-essential commodities.
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