Tamil Nadu govt extends Covid-19 lockdown till Oct-end with more relaxations

However, chief minster Edappadi K. Palaniswami assured further relaxations in the next phase of the lockdown and the guidelines will concentrate mostly on containment zones. Essential items and all the relaxations already announced under the state's unlock guidlines will be in place.

Palaniswami, who held a virtual meeting with the district collectors and senior officials, and reviewed the situation arising due to the pandemic.

Under the new guidelines, hotels will be allowed to function from 6 am to 9pm. Parcel services will now be permitted till 10 pm.

Moreover, film shootings can resume with 100 people.

Flight services at Chennai airport to be increased from 50 to 100 from first of October.

The ban on suburban electric train traffic will continue.

The circular of School Education dept allowing students of class 10, 11 and 12 to go to schools on voluntary basis to take guidance from teachers have been put on hold.

The decision regarding the opening of schools for 10th and 12th classes will be taken after consultation with the medical committee, the circular stated.

"Based on the inputs given in the meeting with collectors and by the medical team, considering the present spread of the pandemic and the safety of the students, the GO enabling students to volunatrily seek teachers' guidance is being put on hold," CM Palaniswami said.

However, theatres, amusement parks, swimming pools, beaches and other social gatherings will continue to remain shut.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu on Tuesday reported 5,546 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 5,91,943, while the death toll mounted to 9,453 with 70 fatalities.

The active cases stood at 46,281 with 5,501 patients getting discharged from various hospitals and cumulatively 5,36,209 people have got cured, the bulletin said.