In a statement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that ‘maximised restricted lockdown’ will be imposed in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur districts which come under Metropolitan Chennai Police limits from June 19.
During the 12 day period, only essential services will be allowed with restrictions, he said while adding that the proposed lockdown, sans present relaxations, will be implemented from June 19 to 30 and on two Sundays (June 21 and 28) there shall be a full scale shutdown without any relaxations.
However all the food and essentials stores will be functioning between 9am – 2pm. It is important that we do not rush into markets, department stores and panic buy groceries which led to the spike in the numbers the first lock down.
Earlier the Chief Minister informed in the secretariat that an expert opinion is awaited to prolong the lockdown. “The number of people infected with coronavirus in Tamil Nadu is increasing day by day. With this in mind, we have formed a medical committee with 19 members. The state government will decide based on the inputs from this committee and the 12 separate committees of top bureaucrats about the extension of the lockdown. We have ordered four lakh Rapid test kits. We will get 50000 kits tonight. The central government has also promised to send us 20000 kits, which is expected to reach tomorrow,” the CM said.
