May 10-24 lockdown only way to break COVID chain: CM

Seeking public cooperation, Stalin says supply of essentials won’t be hit

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday announced a complete lockdown in the State from May 10 to May 24 and said that it was being done for unavoidable reasons considering the sharp rise in COVID cases. On an average, the State was reporting about 25,000 cases and the news from elsewhere was also alarming, he said.

In a statement to the public, Stalin said that the government was taking measures to control the virus spread and the lockdown was one such serious measure. During a high-level meeting to discuss pandemic mitigation measures, administrators, health experts and virologists advised a complete lockdown and the only option available to break the COVID chain.

The present wave was targeting youngsters and children with a more vigorous lung infection and the spread of the infection was faster due to multiple mutations and we are in a difficult time, the statement said, with CM requesting full public cooperation for the lockdown.

Stalin also said that the basic supply of essential commodities like milk, medicine, groceries, provisions and newspaper will not be disrupted. A press release from the Secretariat said that malls, shopping complexes, spas, swimming pools, beaches, tourist spots will be closed.

The State-run Tasmac liquor shops will be fully shut, restaurants, hotels can only deliver parcel service, the statement said. Religious, cultural and sports events will be banned. All government departments like revenue, fire, police, health, registrar office, electricity office, social welfare departments, forest offices will function, but all private offices except those of essential commodities should be closed. IT and ITES companies should adopt the work from home model during the lockdown, the statement said.

Metro Rail suspended:

Chennai Metro Rail on Saturday announced that it would temporarily suspend its services during the twoweek lockdown. However, on Sunday, trains would be operated based on the holiday time table with a frequency of 10 minutes from 7 am to 9 pm.

We are assessing all the prevailing situations to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Puducherry — Tamilisai Soundararajan,

Puducherry Lt Governor

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Saturday appealed to people to adopt self-discipline and adhere to COVID safety norms so that imposition of total lockdown in the Union Territory would not be felt necessary.

Addressing reporters on the sidelines of a government function near here, the Lt Governor said, ‘lockdown can be imposed in the current context of surge in COVID-19 cases in Puducherry. It can be done in a minute.

“But, we should also take into consideration the implications of total lockdown particularly in its impact on livelihood of the poor. All aspects need to be considered before resorting to total lockdown,” she said.

Soundararajan urged people to be very cautious and adopt safety norms and specifically not be negligent in wearing masks. She said she could see while driving in her car in and around the city that the youth were totally careless in using masks. Of late it has been seen that coronavirus was hitting the youth more than others. Hence, no complacency should be shown by the youth, she added.

When her attention was drawn to the announcement by Tamil Nadu government to adopt two week long total lockdown from May 10, she said, “we cannot emulate immediately the step taken in some other state. We should consider the local conditions and adopt measures. We are assessing all the prevailing situations to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Puducherry,” the Lt Governor

said adding the Centre was coming to the rescue of territorial government in ensuring proper infrastructural facilities, availability of drugs and equipment to tackle the coronavirus.

She also promised that she would extend her cooperation to the elected government.

Meanwhile, the Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan launched distribution of five kilo food grains free of cost to the people covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to mitigate the hardships the poorer sections faced during the pandemic.

Puducherry records 1,703 COVID cases, 19 deaths

Puducherry’s coronavirus tally shot up to 70,076 as 1,703 infections were added afresh during the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Saturday.

The Union Territory also registered 19 new fatalities, raising the toll to 939. The new cases were identified at the end of examination of 9132 samples projecting test positivity rate at 18.64 per cent, the Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said.

The UT alone accounted for 1,355 new cases out of the total 1,703 and this is followed by Karaikal 171, Yanam 153 and Mahe 24.