G.O. (Ms) No.53, COVID-19 Restrictions from 01.02.2022 to 15.02.2022 along with relaxations

What the notification governed

G.O. (Ms) No.53 dated 28 January 2022 was issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It applied temporary COVID-19 controls throughout Tamil Nadu from 1 February 2022 to 15 February 2022, while relaxing several earlier lockdown measures.

The notification affected residents, businesses, educational institutions, places of worship, event organisers and government enforcement authorities. It did not change land ownership, registration, planning permission or revenue records.

Restrictions that continued

G.O. (Ms) No.53 retained the following controls:

• Existing restrictions on social, cultural and political gatherings continued.
• Play schools and nursery schools, including LKG and UKG, could not function.
• Exhibitions and cultural events conducted by government or private organisations were not permitted.
• Marriage gatherings were limited to 100 guests.
• Funeral and last rites gatherings were limited to 50 people.
• Hotels, lodges, bakeries, guest houses and dormitories could provide dine-in services at 50 per cent capacity.
• Textile and jewellery shops could admit customers up to 50 per cent capacity.
• Cinemas, theatres, recreation clubs, gymnasiums, yoga centres, indoor stadia, auditoriums, salons, spas and permitted amusement parks were generally limited to 50 per cent capacity.

Relaxations and reopening

G.O. (Ms) No.53 withdrew the night curfew from 28 January 2022 and confirmed that there would be no complete lockdown on Sunday, 30 January 2022. Religious places could open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 28 January 2022, subject to Standard Operating Procedures.

Physical classes for Standards 1 to 12 could resume from 1 February 2022. Government and private universities, colleges, Industrial Training Institutes and other training institutes could also resume physical classes, except institutions designated as COVID Care Centres.

All earlier COVID-19 restrictions were withdrawn except the restrictions specifically retained in the notification.

Safety measures and enforcement

G.O. (Ms) No.53 required face masks, social distancing, workplace sanitisation, hand hygiene and compliance with applicable Standard Operating Procedures. Shops had to provide hand sanitiser and thermal screening, while workers and customers had to wear masks. Commercial establishment employees and owners were required to be vaccinated and hold vaccination certificates.

District authorities and local bodies could enforce containment measures. Violations could lead to fines and legal action under Sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Section 188 of the IPC and other applicable provisions.