Coronavirus Outbreak: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu extend lockdown till May 31
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have extended lockdowns in their states till May 31, the officials from both the governments said on Sunday. Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta issued an order to extend the lockdown in the country's most affected state. “The calibrated phase-wise relaxation/lifting of lockdown orders will be notified in due course,” the order said. The current lockdown order ends on Sunday.
Likewise, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced that the lockdown would continue in his state until May 31, with more relaxations. As per the report, the restrictions include the restoration of intra-district public transport services in 25 districts of the state after nearly two months.
In 12 of the states remaining districts, including capital Chennai, the city that has the highest number of cases in the state, there will be no change in restrictions from the third phase of lockdown. The public health and medical experts, Palaniswami said that the lockdown is extended till May 31 and the curbs including a bar on the functioning of educational institutions, public entry into religious places, and relaxations already in force will continue throughout the state, the report suggested.
The districts that will see an easing of restrictions are Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Namakkal, and Karur, where people could use public transport with an e-pass," (permission for travel). Meanwhile, the public transport has been suspended in Tamil Nadu since March 24.
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The development comes as Maharashtra’s COVID-19 infections continue to rise. With 30,706 coronavirus cases, Maharashtra accounts for more than a quarter of the country’s 90,927 infections. Tamil Nadu has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country at 10,585. Its death toll stands at 74.
-PTC News
