COVID-19, Lockdown extended in Tamil Nadu till 24:00 hrs of 30.4.2021, Further restrictions
The Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue and Disaster Management Department issued G.O. Ms. No. 351, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), dated 24 April 2021, imposing additional COVID-19 restrictions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The restrictions took effect at 4.00 A.M. on 26 April 2021, alongside the statewide lockdown already extended until 24:00 hrs on 30 April 2021.
What the notification governs
G.O. Ms. No. 351, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), dated 24 April 2021, was issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue and Disaster Management Department. It introduced further restrictions to contain COVID-19, while retaining earlier lockdown relaxations and restrictions. It concerns public movement, businesses, workplaces, gatherings and enforcement, rather than ownership or transfer of land.
Businesses and public places affected
The restrictions effective from 4.00 A.M. on 26 April 2021 included:
- Cinemas, theatres, gymnasiums, recreation clubs, bars, auditoriums, meeting halls and similar places had to close.
- Shopping complexes, malls and big format shops could not operate. Routine maintenance and removal of commodities were permitted.
- Standalone provision stores, vegetable shops and departmental stores selling provisions and vegetables could operate under the Standard Operating Procedure. Standalone departmental stores could not use air conditioning and could admit no more than 50 percent of their customer capacity at a time.
- Beauty parlours, spas, salons and barber shops in corporations and municipalities could not operate.
- Restaurants, hotels, messes and tea shops could provide parcel food only. Hotel and lodge guests could receive food in their rooms.
- All e-commerce activities were permitted subject to prescribed time restrictions.
Worship, gatherings and travel
G.O. Ms. No. 351 closed religious places to public worship, while allowing employees to conduct essential poojas, prayers and rituals. Kudamuzhukku could proceed only with temple employees, without the general public and under the Standard Operating Procedure. New permissions for Kudamuzhukku or Tiruvizha were not to be granted.
Marriage gatherings were limited to 50 guests, and funerals or last rites to 25 persons. Travellers entering Tamil Nadu from other states, except Puducherry, and passengers arriving from foreign countries by air or ship had to show e-registration details entered at http://eregister.tnega.org.
Workplaces and enforcement
The notification required at least 50 percent of employees in IT and ITEs organisations to work from home. Industries could function with safety measures and applicable Standard Operating Procedures, and travelling workers had to carry identity cards issued by their industrial establishments.
No activities were permitted in containment zones. The Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation and District Collectors were directed to enforce masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and applicable operating procedures. Violations could lead to proceedings under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the IPC and other applicable legal provisions.
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Common questions
Did this notification change any land ownership or property registration rules?
No land ownership, property transfer or registration rule is stated in the notification. It deals with COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on activities, businesses, gatherings, travel and workplaces.
Could provision and vegetable shops operate under G.O. Ms. No. 351?
Standalone provision stores, vegetable shops and qualifying departmental stores could operate under the Standard Operating Procedure. Provision and vegetable shops inside shopping complexes or malls were not permitted.
Were construction or industrial establishments required to close?
The notification states that all industries could function with safety measures and the Government's Standard Operating Procedures. Employees and workers travelling to industrial establishments had to carry employer-issued identity cards.
What restrictions applied in containment zones?
No activities were permitted in containment zones, and restrictions there were to be further intensified.
