Normalcy returning in slow motion in TN as some shops reopen

The lockdown version 4.0 began on Monday with several relaxations.

In rural areas, barber shops raised their shutters on Tuesday morning after the state government permitted them, subject to conditions like maintenance of social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitising the shop several times a day.

As per reports reaching here, the hair stylists in those places were happy as they started to receive customers.

However, other shops were not so lucky.

In Chennai, though some jewellery, garment and other shops were open even in commercial areas, they did not get customer footfalls.

"The public transport - buses, taxis and autorickshaws - are not allowed to ply on the roads. So, there are no customer footfalls," a garment shop owner told IANS.

As people do not want to spend time in shops, it will take some more time for business to pick up, more so in the case of garment shops.

"We girls always like to try out garments before buying. Now I fear going to a garment shop and try out an item. I won't be knowing who had tried that out before me," Sangita, a private sector employee, told IANS.

As stipulated by the government that shops should function without air conditioners, shop owners are sweating it out waiting for customers.

Defying the ban, some autorickshaws did ply on the road and police were busy booking them.

Some buses were seen on the roads - but only to transport government officials to their offices.

Tea shops were open but the volume of business was not high as people's movements on the roads have gone down and there is a general reluctance to eat anything outside.

Industries - big and small- too started operations, abiding the government guidelines.