Following Kerala and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu has also decided to go in for full lockdown to combat the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic with effect from tomorrow, May 10.

The newly-elected Chief Minister of the Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, said that intensifying the measures for preventing the further spread of COVID-19, had necessitated complete lockdown for two weeks in the State.

Appearing on the TV, the CM made a fervent plea to the people to adhere to the guidelines issued for preventing the spread of this infection. Stating that the pandemic is curable and that people need fear it, he wanted them to cooperate during the lockdown.

The CM admitted that lockdown would affect the livelihoods of the people but added that without it, containing the infection would be difficult.

Except for essential services like secretariat, health, revenue, disaster management, police, home guard, fire and rescue services, prisons department, district administration, electricity, drinking water supply treasuries etc. all other State Government offices shall not function.

Further, the heads of the essential departments have been instructed to make arrangements for the transportation of their employees. The restriction also applies to the Central Government offices.

What is prohibited?

• State Government Offices (except essential services departments) will not function; this restriction will also apply to central government offices.
• Inter-district and intra-district movement of public and private transport, call taxis and auto rickshaws.
• People will be allowed to move with necessary documents for essential work like weddings, last rites of close relatives, interviews/employment events and medical purposes.
  Beauty parlours, haircutting saloons, spas.
• Food should be served to customers staying in hotels and lodges at their rooms and they will not be allowed to dine in general premises of the hotels.
• No permission for the functioning of hotels and lodges. However, these will be allowed to function for customers who stay for commercial reasons and for medical purposes.
• Social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/festival related and other gatherings in both open and closed spaces will remain prohibited.
• All cinemas/multiplex/theatres will remain closed.
• No permission for public worship at places of worship. However, regular poojas/rituals/prayers can go ahead with the employees. Consecration of temples and organising festivals will not be permitted.
• Visit of public and tourists to tourist spots in the Nilgiris district, Kodaikkanal, Yercaud etc. is prohibited. Beaches across Tamil Nadu will remain closed so will parks, zoological parks, protected monuments of archaeological department, museums will remain closed.
• Schools, colleges, universities, government and private training centres will remain closed. There will be no summer camps conducted by these institutions. Sports training academies including swimming pools will not function.
• No permission for the functioning of recreation clubs, bars, auditoriums, entertainment/amusement parks, meeting halls where the public gathers in large numbers.
• Big format shops (showrooms with a size of 3,000 sq.ft and above), shopping complexes and malls will not function. Provision stores and vegetable shops functioning in shopping complexes and malls have been prohibited.

What is permitted?

• Grocery shops, vegetable shops, shops selling meat and fish will be allowed to open till 12 noon without air conditioning facility.
• E-commerce enterprises like Dunzo will be allowed to deliver groceries, vegetables, meat and fish till 12 noon. All other shops will remain closed during the full lockdown period.
• Standalone shops selling provisions and vegetables will be permitted to function till 12 noon without air-conditioning facility. Maximum 50 percent customers at a time will be allowed in these shops.
• Milk supply, distribution of newspapers, courier service, functioning of hospitals, medical laboratories, dispensaries, ambulance and mortuary vans, medical services, all freight services, vehicles carrying agricultural produce, carriers of medical oxygen, petrol, diesel and LPG etc.
• Amma Canteens will continue to function.
• Street vendors selling vegetables and flowers will be allowed till noon while ration shops will be allowed to function between 8 am and noon.
• Only takeaway services will be allowed in hotels between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.; noon and 3 p.m.; and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Swiggy, Zomato etc. can deliver food only during these time slots. Roadside food stalls will not be allowed.
• E-commerce activities will be restricted only for delivering food, groceries, provisions, vegetables, meat and fish.
• Judiciary and courts will function as can the press and media.
• Only 50 persons will be allowed for wedding/wedding related events while only 20 persons will be allowed for last rites for the deceased.
• Petrol and diesel bunks will continue to function.
• Banks, ATMs, banking related transport, insurance services will be allowed with 50 percent of the workforce.

All shops were allowed to remain open on Saturday as well as Sunday to allow people to prepare for the lockdown.