City to turn fortress during 12-day curfew

City to turn fortress during 12-day curfew

Those Out On Roads Sans Reason To Be Penalised

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:

The government’s idea is to turn the area within Greater Chennai police limits into a virtual fortress, with strict curbs on movement of people and vehicles during the 12-day intense lockdown from June 19 to 30.

Autorickshaws and taxis will not be allowed to ply, except for medical emergencies and even then commuters will have to prove their need is genuine and carry multiple photocopies of all relevant documents.

You can buy vegetables and groceries only from shops within 2km of your home and you’ll have to walk. The shops will be open only from 6am to 2pm.

Restaurants can only operate takeaway services and that too only between 6am and 8pm and their staff should have proper ID cards.

Services for the aged and disabled, and old-age homes and orphanages can run. But voluntary organisations and others should get passes from tnepass.tnega.org. Both passes and identity cards should be photocopied in A5 size (148mmX210mm). Those who don’t wear masks will be fined.

The Greater Chennai traffic police have warned that those found moving out unnecessarily will be booked under CrPc 144. Their vehicles will also be impounded.

Those who possess necessary passes should also ensure that they follow social distancing while travelling in vehicles.

On the two Sundays, June 21 and 28, there will be a complete lockdown without any relaxation. On these two days, except milk supply, hospitals, pharmacies, ambulance services, emergency and funeral hearse vans, no other activities will be permitted. Barricades would be put up in critical locations and public address systems used to ensure people obeyed the lockdown rules.

“The main objective of this lockdown is to restrict the movement of people within the area and outside to reduce the disease spread,” said chief secretary K Shanmugam who held a meeting with officials and shot off a five-page letter of instructions to civic and police officials in Chennai and the three adjoining districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and Thiruvallur.

He suggested geo-fencing of home isolated patients and quarantined contacts to ensure they don’t move around and strict action against the violators. Outside the containment zones, fever camps would be organised for early detection and testing of suspected persons. Smooth supply of essentials in the quarantine houses and in the containment area would be ensured to make the lockdown a success.

“Ensure 100% identification of all home contacts and other contacts and quarantine them within 24 hours. Use Aarogya Setu or tele-consultation of police for tracking to ensure contact tracing is complete without omission,” the chief secretary said.

The teams should keep a close watch on the health of aged, comorbid cases. The waiting time in screening centres should be reduced and hassle-free allotment of hospital/health or Covid care centre and private hospital ensured. There should be better coordination for allotment of beds in private hospitals.

The Chennai police have said that in case of any doubts the public can contact 044-23452330 / 044-23452362 and 90031 30103.