Full lockdown in TN for a week from tomorrow

No shops, including vegetable and grocery vends — will be allowed to open for one week from Monday, when the state will be under a total lockdown, permitting the continuation of just a handful of essential services and preventing people from stepping out of their homes.

However, to prepare the people for the lockdown and enable them to stock up on essential goods, all shops would be open till 9 pm on Saturday and from 6 am to 9 pm on Sunday, when outstation buses would also be operated, chief minister M.K. Stalin announced on Saturday through a statement.

After the chief minister’s meeting with officers and medical experts, the statement said vegetables and fruits will be supplied through vehicles operated by the horticulture department in Chennai city. In the districts they would be supplied at the homes in association with the local bodies, it said.

Pharmacies, including that of indigenous medicine and veterinary sciences, would be open as usual and daily distribution of milk, water and newspapers be allowed during the total lockdown, the statement said.

Only essential departments in the Secretariat and district administrations will function, while banks, insurance companies and IT firms have been asked to allow their employees work from home. Malls too will not be allowed to open.

Restaurants, as usual, can provide takeaway service from 6 am to 10 am, 12 noon to 3 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm and e-commerce food delivery can also function only during those hours.