City roads empty as residents follow restrictions

Chennai

Except for the shops selling groceries and vegetables, which were allowed to operate during the normal lockdown, everything else remained shut throughout the day. Groceries and vegetable shops downed their shutter after 2 pm leaving an eerie view on the deserted streets.

In the wake of State crossing 50,000 COVID-19 cases, the State government has imposed complete lockdown in Chennai and its neighbouring districts from June 19 to June 30. Apart from the city’s interior roads, major roads, including Anna Salai, Arcot Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, remained free of vehicle movement.

“Unlike earlier lockdown announcements, the government gave enough time to buy essentials this time. There was no overcrowding at the shops on Friday morning and the streets were empty,” V Priya, a resident of Teynampet said.

Balaji, who works in a water purifier firm as a service executive, said that he was given leave as he could not travel to his workplace owing to strict police monitoring.

Meanwhile, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash requested the public to utilise the lockdown to control the spread of the virus.

“We will find out persons with symptoms and will continue to conduct fever camps in divisions using thermal guns and pulse oxymeters. Door-to-door fever survey will be intensified. Residents should disclose their symptoms so that they can be treated on time,” he said.

He added that the around 10 to 15 per cent of deaths in the city could have been prevented if the infected persons had disclosed their symptoms.

The civic body has appointed volunteers to help people in emergency needs during the lockdown.