4-day lockdown in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore not to be extended: TN govt
It also announced a relaxation in the business hours ofshops selling essential items including vegetables forApril 30, saying they can function from 6 AM to 5 PM.
Amidst rising Covid-19 cases in the state, Chief MinisterK Palaniswami had on April 24 announced a complete shutdownfrom Sunday (April 26) in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai forfour days, disallowing grocery shops as well and fullycurtailing movement of the public.
The shutdown in the corporation limits of Chennai,Madurai and Coimbatore, scheduled to end by Wednesday night,will revert to the pre-April 26 conditions, an officialrelease here said.
On Wednesday, the government announced extending thebusiness hours of shops selling essential items for Thursday,saying it will be applicable only for tomorrow.
"On April 30, to enable people buy essential itemslike vegetables, fruits and grocery, shops selling these willbe allowed to remain open from 6 AM to 5 PM," the releasesaid.
However, business hours will be curtailed from 6 AM to1 PM from the next day, May 1, in adherence to the lockdownconditions announced earlier.
The government urged the people to strictly follow socialdistancing while buying the essential items, besides askingthem to remain patient and calm during shopping.
"People are directed to wear masks," while visitingthe shops, it said cautioning them against the contagion.
Incidentally, people had given a go-by to all socialdistancing norms on Saturday, a day before the total lockdownkicked-in in the said cities and resorted to panic buying byswarming markets in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai topurchase essential commodities. SAROH ROH