Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has announced an extension of the ongoing lockdown in the state from May 24 by one week to cut the spread of covid-19 in the state.
The move comes against the backdrop of covid-19 cases in the state touching an all time high of over 36000 yesterday.
The lockdown was announced after the chief minister held consultations with health experts and an all party committee today on measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Further tightening the lockdown norms, an official release issued later said all grocery and vegetable shops would be shut down during the lockdown period.
However, vegetables and fruits would be sold by the horticulture department in Chennai city and in association with local bodies in the districts.
E-Commerce services would be allowed to function from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the evening although food delivery services would be restricted to specific hours during the morning afternoon and evening.
People would be allowed to travel from one district to another with e- registration only for medical reasons and funerals.
Central and state government offices, essential services like health, pharmacies, milk, water, newspaper and electricity supply, continuous process industries, those manufacturing essential commodities and medical items and the media will continue to function as per previous lockdown norms.
In view of the total lockdown from Monday, all shops in the state have been permitted to open till 9 p.m. today and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow.
Both public and private transport will be operated today and tomorrow to enable people to reach their native places.
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