Tamil Nadu announced a week-long extension of the existing lockdown, which was set to end on July 5.

Chennai: With the state’s COVID-19 situation improving, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that the existing lockdown, which was set to end on Monday, July 5, has been extended for a week until July 12, and that the same set of coronavirus restrictions and relaxations will apply across the state.

Inter-state buses, cinema halls, swimming pools, open-to-the-public religious and political events, schools and colleges, entertainment/sporting events, and zoos will remain closed during the period.

Weddings can continue to be held with 50 guests, while 20 members can gather at bereavement rituals, and E-registration is not required for inter-district travel.

Some of the major relaxations include business-to-business exhibitions, dine-in at hotels from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with 50% occupancy, and tea stalls with 50% occupancy. Club gyms and sports facilities can operate in accordance with safety protocols, whereas hotels and lodges can allow guests to stay and dine at 50% occupancy.

IT and ITES firms can operate at 50% capacity, gyms and yoga centres can operate at 50% capacity, and liquor stores can be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All places of worship will be allowed to remain open, but no special events will be permitted; shopping malls will be allowed to operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., but only 50% of dine-in at food courts/eateries will be permitted. Inter-district and intra-district bus services would resume at 50% capacity.

Those pursuing SRF/JRF, M.Phil, Phd, and research work can do so from their respective colleges and universities, which are allowed to function for this purpose. Government training facilities can also operate at 50% capacity. Water sports will be prohibited, even though amusement and entertainment parks can operate at half capacity.

Tamil Nadu is currently seeing over 4,000 COVID-19 cases per day and has over 36,000 active cases.