It became clear on Friday that all is not well in Tamil Nadu as coronavirus continued its upward march unbated and uncontrolled. A special meeting convened by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Friday which was attended among others by top bureaucrats, police officials and health professionals discussed and analysed the prevailing situation in the State.
After the meeting the Chief Minister in a statement declared that the city corporation limits of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai would be shutdown completely for four days from April 26. The shutdown or lockdown would be in operation from 6 am on April 26 to 9 pm on April 29.
Similarly, the city corporation limits of Salem and Toruppur would be shut down totally for three days from April 26.
The Chief Minister said that the decision for lock down was taken after the government was convinced that the spread of coronavirus was severe in urban areas. Even business and commercial establishments which were allowed to function following the relaxation of lock down rules has been asked to down the shutters from April 26 for four days.
Only essential wings of the Government would be allowed to function and that too with minimum staff, said the statement issued by the chief minister.
Sale of vegetables and fruits would only be permitted in mobile carts. All shops are to remain closed. Hotels can deliver parcels on orders made through phones.
Madurai experienced tense moments on Friday morning as hundreds gathered in front of the City Corporation office flouting all precautions to the winds. The people were given wrong information that only vehicles carrying new passes issued by the corporation would be allowed on the roads from Monday.
This created panic among daily wage earners and self employed persons for whom two-wheelers are the only avenue of transport.
It took the police hours to convince the crowd that there was no such plans and they have been taken for a ride by unknown elements.
For two hours, the crowd forgot social distancing and other precautions associated with the spread of Covid 19 as they argued with the local body officials.