Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), Infection Prevention and Control under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

Scope and duration

G.O. Ms. No. 152, Health and Family Welfare (P1), dated 23rd March 2020, was issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Tamil Nadu COVID-19 Regulations, 2020. It imposed restrictions throughout Tamil Nadu from 6.00 p.m. on 24th March 2020 to 6.00 a.m. on 1st April 2020.

The requirements affected residents, travellers, businesses, government offices, educational institutions, industries, transport operators and property based establishments.

Main restrictions

G.O. Ms. No. 152 required the following measures:

• Suspected cases and foreign returnees who arrived after 1st March 2020 had to remain in strict home quarantine for the period decided by local health authorities.
• People had to remain at home except when accessing basic and essential services.
• A distance of 1 metre or 3 feet had to be maintained.
• Public gatherings of more than five people were prohibited, subject to separate orders from the relevant authorities.
• Shops, commercial establishments, TASMAC shops, government offices, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings had to close unless exempted.
• Public transport, including buses, Metro services, taxis, share autos, auto rickshaws and ride sharing services, was not permitted except for exempt categories.
• Interstate and interdistrict services could not operate.

Exempt services and premises

G.O. Ms. No. 152 allowed listed essential activities to continue. These included hospitals, clinics, chemist shops, food and grocery supply, milk booths, banks, ATMs, petrol pumps, LPG services, agriculture, fisheries, security services, goods transport, electricity, water, sewerage, telecommunications, postal services, media, warehouses and drinking water supply.

Commercial Taxes and Registration Offices were included among the government offices permitted to function. Essential construction activities could continue only with disease prevention measures and continuous monitoring of workers' health.

Exempt shops had to prevent crowding, maintain 3 feet between customers, disinfect their premises three times daily and provide sanitiser at the entrance. Exempt units also had to protect employees through hygiene, distancing, hand washing and disinfection measures.

Other closures and enforcement

G.O. Ms. No. 152 continued earlier closures of schools, colleges, welfare hostels, malls, theatres, libraries, museums, tourist places, beaches and other listed facilities. Religious places were closed for public worship, although daily rituals could continue.

Violations were treated as offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code and could also be dealt with under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.