Full lockdown in TN till May 31, grocery, veggie shops too shut

Full lockdown in TN till May 31, grocery, veggie shops too shut

All Shops To Remain Open Till 9pm Today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.05.2021

Chief minister MK Stalin on Saturday announced total lockdown with no relaxations for a week beginning May 24 as the Covid-19 case count crossed 36,000 a day in the state. Shops selling groceries and vegetables too will remain shut during the lockdown period. A team of medical experts constituted by the state government had suggested intensifying Covid-19 control measures.

Stalin also chaired a meeting with the committee of MLAs representing various parties before announcing the decision. “In view of the total lockdown, the government has permitted all shops open till 9pm on Saturday (May 22) and between 6am and 9pm on Sunday (May 23). All public and private buses will be allowed to ply on Saturday and Sunday,” Stalin said. Malls will not be allowed to open during the total lockdown. Vegetables and fruits will be supplied by horticulture department through vehicles during the lockdown period.

Earlier, speaking at the meeting of MLAs representing various parties, Stalin said the Covid-19 spread had not been brought under control yet. “The government announced relaxations for people to buy groceries and vegetables, but some of them have taken it for granted and started roaming on the streets. They did not obey lockdown norms despite instructions from police”, the chief ministersaid.

‘People’s words reflect fear of Covid, but not actions’

Chennai: “Total lockdown was for people’s benefit and to save their lives. It was saddening when people treat lockdown as a holiday and not as an emergency caused by Covid,” Stalin said.

To bring the pandemic under control, every individual had to take an oath that he or she would not spread the infection, he said. “Fear of coronavirus is evident while members of the public speak about the disease, but it does not reflect in their actions,” Stalin said, recalling how Covid-19 took away many lives and put the future of many families in question.

Former health minister C Vijayabaskar said the chain of transmission could be broken only if total lockdown was imposed. He said the government should focus on early intervention and diagnosis and take up a multi-disciplinary approach on a warfooting by setting up additional Covid care centres, hospitals and screening centres in districts to avoid crowding in specialty hospitals. “Top-most priority should be given to oxygen supply. Post-Covid recovery clinics should also be set up and infrastructure should be ramped up to face the third wave,” the AIADMK leader said.

Earlier, BJP floor leader and former minister Nainar Nagendran said the government should pay adequate attention to rural areas, ensuring isolation and adequate food supply.