As 4, 276 new persons were diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday across the State, the Tamil Nadu Government reverted to a semi lockdown mode to check the spreading of the pandemic. The 24 hours ending Thursday 6 PM saw the State registering 19 deaths due to Covid-19.
On Wednesday evening itself, the State had recorded 3,986 new cases and 17 deaths which made the State administration to convene an emergency meeting on Thursday and revert back to an unofficial lock-down mode.
The Chief Secretary vide a special government order declared Koyambedu market in Chennai, the epicentre of the first wave of pandemic attack a no-go area for small traders from April 10.
The order states that fruit and vegetable shops, shopping malls, theatres, big time shops and jewellery shops could be operated only with 50 per cent capacity till 11 pm.
Hotels and tea stalls could function with 50 per cent capacity while public functions and crowds would be under the scanner. Marriages could be held with a maximum of 100 guests while only 50 persons would be allowed for death related functions. All temple festivals and religious events stand banned from April 10, said the order.
While it is not clear what the Government proposes to do about the functioning of educational institutions like colleges and universities, the Government Order says that social, political, educational,, entertainment, sporting and cultural events are allowed in indoor venues with a maximum capacity of 200 persons.
Starting from April 10, number of passengers travelling by bus too would be confined to the minimum. No standees would be allowed in bus services.
Government medical doctors said that chances of more restrictions were on the anvil and are likely to be announced late evening after the meeting convened by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of States that top the table with high number of covid patients.