What’s allowed and what isn’t as Madurai lockdown tightens for the next one week

• The authorities said the lockdown will begin from June 23 and will last till June 30.
• Essential activities will only be allowed between 6 am to 2 pm on weekdays.
• Essential commodities shops like grocery stores and petrol bunks will be open from 6 am to 2 pm with stricter social distancing norms.

Tamil Nadu government has enforced a seven days long complete lockdown in Madurai as the coronavirus cases continue to mount in the city. The authorities said the lockdown will begin from June 23 and will last till June 30.

According to the statement, the whole city will remain shut on Sunday, and essential activities will only be allowed between 6 am to 2 pm on weekdays.

“Complete lockdown in the jurisdiction of Madurai Corporation limits, Paravai Town Panchayat and rural blocks of Madurai East, Madurai west and Thiruparankundram from 23.06.2020 to 30.06.2020,” according to the statement.

Here’s the list of activities permitted during the lockdown

• Hospitals, medical labs, pharmaceuticals shops, ambulance and medical services will be allowed during the lockdown.
• All public transport like auto, taxi and buses won’t be allowed until being used for a medical emergency. However, transportation from the airport or railway station will be allowed after procuring e-pass from the authorities.
• All state and central government offices in the city will work with 33% staff with an exception for essential services departments including health, police and other local bodies.
• State government employees from the containment zones will be exempt from duty. However, prior approval is needed.
• Banks are allowed to open with a maximum of 33% staff. All ATM’s and other banking services will continue normally.
• The government has also allowed public distribution shops (PDS) to open from 8 am to 2 pm. However, the shop in the containment zones will remain shut, and the relief will be directly handed over to the families in need.
• Essential commodities shops like grocery stores and petrol bunks will be open from 6 am to 2 pm with stricter social distancing norms. The residents will only be allowed to buy essential items within a kilometre from their residence.
• Restaurants and hotels will be open from 6 am to 8 pm; however, only takeaways will be allowed.
• The government has allowed operation of amma canteens and community kitchens during the lockdown.
• NGOs and organisations planning to help the needy will need prior permission from the government.
• It has also allowed operation of media, judiciary and construction workers for the next 7 days.
• The government also said the e-pass would only be issued to people who are visiting other cities for marriage, funeral and other medical emergencies— subjected to documentation.
• Companies involved in IT services will be permitted to function with only 5% of the regular staff, and for that, a list will be provided by the IT department.

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