TN under lockdown from 6pm today: Sec 144 to be in force

Chennai

To effectively control the transmission of coronavirus, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, on Monday, announced complete shutdown in the State from Tuesday 6 pm till March 31.

“For effective implementation of ‘social distancing’ prohibitory orders will be enforced in the State from 6 pm on Tuesday till March 31,” said the Chief Minister. “All the district borders will the sealed except for essential and emergency services under section 2 of The Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897. Government and private buses, taxis, autos and other modes of private transport will not be allowed,” he said.

Outlining the initiatives taken by the government for managing the infected, Palaniswami told the state Assembly that Rs 500 crore has been allocated from the state disaster relief fund for anti-virus initiatives, up from the initial sum of Rs 60 crore. However, the essential services would not be hit. “Except for shops selling essential food items such as milk, groceries, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish shops no other commercial establishments and bigger shops would be allowed to function,” said Palaniswami.

The State government had already instructed private companies to make their employees work from home and the same instruction will be continued in the time of shutdown. Private companies involved in essential service, manufacturing essential items, export companies and health related companies are alone exempted from this. The order also stated thatTasmac shops will not function.

However, as far as government departments are concerned, expect for essential departments such as police, fire, health and local administration other departments will not function. Except for essential construction works all other construction works should be stopped, he said. In the interest of large number of workers staying in various hostels, restaurants which can deliver foods will alone be allowed to function. The Amma Canteens will also function during the shutdown period.

Chief Minister further said that the State government is planning to provide compensation for the individuals affected by the pandemic.

GUIDELINES

• Essential and emergency services, public and private transportation, including cars, taxis, autos and buses, will not function
• Only hospitals, firms involved in healthcare and outlets dealing with essential commodities like milk, vegetables, groceries, meat and fish will be open 
• Also, government departments and offices other than those are essential like police, fire and rescue, health, courts and local bodies will not function 
• Both inter and intra State transport is fully banned 
• Construction, except those for emergencies, will be banned
• Restaurants will be allowed to operate take aways. Government-run low cost eatery chain ‘Amma Canteen’ will function as usual 
• Employees of private companies and information technology firms should work from home
• Firms manufacturing essential goods and export companies will be allowed to operate with reduced number of employees
• Foreign returnees are advised to observe home quarantine voluntarily. If warranted, they should go for testing and proper treatment in hospitals 

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