Tamil Nadu: Night curfew from Jan 6, complete shutdown on Sundays amid Covid surge

In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that a night curfew (from 10 pm – 5 am) will be imposed in the state from Thursday, January 6 and a complete lockdown will be observed on all Sundays.

In a statement, Stalin said the Covid-19 cases on December 27 were 605 and within a few days it multiplied and as on January 3, it reached 1,728. He added that the restrictions are being announced as experts have warned of greater spread of the virus infection, if no stringent measures are taken. The CM also requested the public to follow the safety guidelines issued by the government.

As per the latest order issued, all commercial entities, malls, shops, and restaurants won’t be allowed to operate beyond the permitted time.

Services that will be permitted between 10 pm – 5 am

• Private and public transportations will be allowed. The bus operators need to ensure that Covid-19 safety guidelines are followed.
• Milk, newspapers, hospitals, research centres, medical shops, ambulances, and hearse vehicle services will be permitted.
• Petrol/Diesel bunks will be functional as usual.
• Manufacturing industries, IT sector will be allowed to operate. Employees have been advised to carry their company ID cards. They are also requested to work from home if possible.

#TamilNadu lockdown restrictions: What’s allowed during the night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am?#tamilnadulockdown #TNLockdown #Omicron #nightcurfew pic.twitter.com/UBArArUs8N

— Express Chennai (@ie_chennai) January 5, 2022

Restrictions on Sundays

• Essential services like milk, ATM centres, hospitals, hospital-related works, goods transportation, petrol bunks will be operational.
• Public transportation/Metro train services will not be available on Sundays.
• Restaurants/hotels can operate parcel services from 7 am till 10 pm. Food delivery will also be allowed only during this period.
• Those heading to airports, railway stations have been asked to arrange their own transportation. They need to carry their travel ticket.

#TamilNadu lockdown restrictions: What’s allowed during the full lockdown on Sundays? #TNGovt #TNLockdown #TamilNadu #Omicron #SundayLockdown pic.twitter.com/WjSJcsR0to

— Express Chennai (@ie_chennai) January 5, 2022

Other restrictions

• All Pongal festival celebrations organised by both government and private organisations are postponed.
• All places of worship will remain closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Barring creches, play schools, nursery schools and training and coaching centres are not allowed to function.
• Physical classes for students from classes 1-IX are banned. Students of classes X, XI, and XII are permitted to attend offline classes in view of the public exams as well to ensure they get vaccinated.
• Apart from medical colleges, the rest of the colleges/training institutes will remain closed till January 20. This will be considered study holidays ahead of exams.
• Training and coaching centres are not allowed to operate.
• Veggies and fish stalls will be set up in several areas to avoid overcrowding.
• Book fairs and exhibitions are postponed.
• Buses/trains/metros are allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity.
• Entertainment parks/amusement parks are not allowed to operate.
• Existing ban on cultural, social and political gatherings to continue.
• Employees of all private companies, commercial complexes, theatres need to be fully vaccinated.
• Government and local body employees have to be fully vaccinated before January 9 and they need to submit their certificate in their respective offices.
• All other existing restrictions including 50 per cent occupancy in theatres, hotels, clubs, gyms, beauty parlours and saloons will continue.