TN extends lockdown till Sept 30, opens with more relaxations; e-pass goes

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to resume public transport and do away with the e-pass system from September 1 while extending the COVID-19 lockdown for another month.

Following a meeting with medical experts and district collectors on August 29, the state government on Sunday (August 30) came up with more relaxations during the lockdown.

The e-pass required for travelling between places will no longer be required for such travel, except to hill stations such as Nilgiris, Kodaikkanal, and Yercaud, where e-pass will be required.

Public transport will be resumed from September 1. However, this will be restricted to within district limits.

Metro train services are to be resumed from September 7 but passenger train services will not be allowed till September 15. A decision on that would be taken after assessing the situation.

The complete lockdown followed on Sundays are to be done away from September 1.

Religious worshiping places and shopping malls are to be allowed to operate with 100% workforce. All the shops and hotels can open till 8 pm.

However, cinema theatres located inside malls will remain shut. Hotels with boarding and lodging facilities are to be allowed with Standard Operating Procedures.

Related news: TN has country’s highest COVID recovery rate of 85.45%: CM Edappadi

Tamil Nadu has been under lockdown from March 25 to restrict the spread of COVID.

As on Saturday (August 29), Tamil Nadu’s overall tally of coronavirus cases stood at 4,15,590 with 7,137 related deaths and the active patient count stood at 52,726 and 6,326 patients tested positive on the day while a total of 6,045 patients were discharged.

A total of 3,49,682 people have been cured in Tamil Nadu and the mortality rate (death rate) was “very low” at 1.7%.

As per Centre’s order, lockdown restrictions will continue in containment zones.

Related news: Unlock 4: Here’s what may open post September 1