The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in consultation with the senior ministers has extended the State-wide lockdown till 31st October, 2020.
The following activities will continue to remain prohibited until further Orders, during the lockdown period throughout the State –
1. Schools, colleges, research institutions, educational and coaching institutions will continue to remain closed for students;
2. All cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls, beaches, zoos, museums, tourist places and similar places will remain closed;
3. All international travel of passengers, except for purposes as permitted by MHA;
4. Sub-urban train services remain prohibited;
5. Religious congregations and all social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations;
6. Marriage and related gatherings will not have guests more than 50 and funeral and last rites related gatherings will not have more than 20 people.
The earlier permission allowing students studying in standards 10 to 12 in Government / Government Aided / Private Schools to come to schools from October 1, 2020 on voluntary basis for taking guidance from teachers has been kept in abeyance till further orders.
The following activities have been permitted in addition to the existing activities permitted throughout the State –
1. Restaurants and tea shops will function from 6 am to 9 pm. In addition to this, take away (parcel food) will be permitted upto 10 pm;
2. Shooting of films relating to cinema industry is permitted subject to SOP issued. Also, only 100 persons will be allowed to work at a single point of time. Spectators are not allowed;
3. 100 flights from other States are permitted to land in Chennai airport daily as against 50 flights permitted earlier;
4. Government and other Government Department related Training Institutes permitted to function subject to following the SOPs issued;
5. Weekly Shandies in Urban and Rural Areas permitted to operate while adhering to SOPs
Some points to note –
1. Lockdown will continue to remain in force in the Containment Zones till 31st October, 2020. Further, Containment Zones will be demarcated by the District authorities after taking into consideration the guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) with the objective of effectively breaking the chain of transmission. Strict containment measures will be enforced in these Containment Zones and only essential activities will be allowed. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure there is no movement of persons in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods / services. The Containment Zones will be notified on the website by the respective District Collectors and State.
2. Movement by passenger trains; domestic passenger air travel; movement of persons on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued;
3. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes;
4. With a view to ensuring safety in offices and work places, employers (on best effort basis) should ensure that Arogya Setu is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones;
5. Gathering of more than 5 persons at a time in public places to remain prohibited under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code;
6. No activities to be permitted in Containment Zones.
7. Wearing of mask is mandatory. Repeated washing of hands with soap/ sanitizers and social distancing norms to be strictly enforced;
General Directives for COVID-19 Management:
1. Face coverings: Wearing of face cover is compulsory in public places; in workplaces; and during transport.
2. Social Distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet in public places; shops to ensure physical distancing among customers;
3. Gatherings: Large public gatherings continue to remain prohibited:
• Marriage related gatherings to not exceed 50 persons
• Funeral/ last rite gatherings to not exceed 20 persons
4. Spitting in public places will be punishable with fine (as may be prescribed in accordance with laws, rules or regulations);
5. Consumption of liquor, paan, guthka, etc in public places is prohibited;
Additional requirements in all Workplaces:
1. Work from home (WFH): As far as possible, the practice of WFH should be followed;
2. Staggering of work / business hours will be followed in offices, workplaces, shops, markets and industrial & commercial establishments;
3. Screening & Hygiene: Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash or sanitizer to be made available at all entry and hand wash or sanitizer to be made available at exit points along with common areas;
4. Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., will be ensured, including between shifts;
5. Social distancing: All persons in charge of workplaces to ensure adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff etc.
Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
Source: Government of Tamil Nadu
