The Tamil Nadu Govt. has in a notification dated 31st March, 2021 extended the State wide lockdown till 30th April, 2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with various relaxations and amendments which was earlier till 31st March, 2021.

Key Highlights:

1. International air travel prohibited (except as permitted by Ministry of home affairs ( “MHA”);
2. Test:
3. With sustained effort, the capacity of total daily tests that can be conducted across the State has gone up substantially. There is need to ensure that the tests are being conducted uniformly across all districts, with adequate testing in districts reporting higher number of cases.
4. The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up on best effort basis to 70% or more. Districts where the proportion of RT-PCR tests is less, should rapidly increase testing through this protocol, to reach the prescribed level.
5. Track:
6. The new positive cases detected as a result of intensive testing need to be isolated/ quarantined and their contacts traced at the earliest and similarly isolated/ quarantined. Containment Zones have to be demarcated and containment measures implemented within such Zones;
7. Containment Zones to be demarcated by the district authorities, at the micro level taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (“MoHFW”) in this regard. The list of Containment Zones will be notified on the websites by the respective District Collectors and by the States/ UTs and such list will also be shared with MoHFW on a regular basis.

iii. Within Containment Zones, containment measures (prescribed by MoHFW) to be scrupulously followed:

• Only essential activities shall be allowed;

• Strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services;

• There must be intensive house-to-house surveillance by surveillance teams;

• Testing must be carried out as per prescribed protocol;

• Listing of contacts to be carried out in respect of all persons found positive, along with their tracking, identification, quarantine and follow up of contacts for 14 days (80% of contacts to be traced in 72 hours);

• Surveillance for ILI / SARI cases must be carried out in health facilities or outreach mobile units or through fever clinics in buffer zones;

• local district police and municipal authorities to ensure that the prescribed Containment measures are strictly followed and State/ UT Governments must ensure accountability of the officers concerned in this regard.

4. Treat:
5. Quick isolation of COVID-19 patients must be ensured in treatment facilities / home (subject to fulfilling the home isolation guidelines);
6. Clinical interventions, as prescribed, must be administered. Capacity building of health workers and professionals should be conducted at all levels on an ongoing basis, with a view to ensure that the prescribed clinical management protocol is understood and administered accordingly;

iii. Effective infection prevention and control practices shall be followed in treatment facilities and by health care workers and professionals.

5. District administrations may impose appropriate fines to those persons for not wearing face masks in public and work spaces;
6. Social distancing will  be maintained in crowded places namely markets, weekly bazars and public transport. Standard Operating Procedure  (“SOPs”) shall also be enforced for regulating travel in aircrafts, trains and metro.
7. Following activities are allowed outside the Containment Zones, subject to compliance with all SOPs :

• movement by passenger trains,
• air travel, metro
• schools, higher educational institutions,
• hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, multiplexes
• entertainment parks, gyms, etc.

8. Local Restrictions:

Districts and sub districts, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19.

9. Penalty:

Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, besides legal action under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

Source: Revenue and Management Department, Tamil Nadu

Share this: