Night curfew in State from today
In view of the massive spike in cases, CM Stalin announced a slew of measures, including lockdown on Jan 9, to check virus spread
To tackle the rising COVID cases and considering Omicron strain’s spread, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday announced fresh curbs, that include State-wide night curfew between 10pm and 5am on weekdays from January 6. He also announced complete lockdown on January 9.
After participating in the Assembly session, the Chief Minister held a meeting with medical experts and government officials to discuss the rampant rise in COVID-19 cases and issued the fresh restrictions.
Inter and inter State government and private bus services will be permitted during night curfew. People will be allowed to use personal vehicles and cabs to reach railway stations, airports and bus terminuses during night curfew and complete lockdown. But, travellers should carry journey tickets. During the complete lockdown, other e-commerce services will not be permitted. Essential services like milk distribution, newspaper distribution, pharmacies, medical services, ATM centres, freight traffic and fuel stations will be permitted during the complete lockdown. Creches, play schools and nursery schools will not be allowed to function. Training and coaching centres will not be allowed to operate. Physical classes for standards 10-12 would be on.
Only 50% occupancy will be permitted in buses, suburban trains and Metro during weekdays. Manufacturing and IT firms have been permitted to operate during night curfew. Employees should carry ID cards. However, the government has advised IT firms to allow their employees to work from home. Exhibitions and book fairs have been deferred.
District Collectors and local bodies have been advised to scatter establish vegetable and fish markets while the Transport Department and local bodies have been advised to scatter bus services starting from integrated bus terminus (like CMBT) and operate them zone-wise from different locations. All government employees and employees of local bodies have been instructed to get fully vaccinated before January 9. Walks are allowed on the beaches. Public would not be allowed in all places of worship on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.