Chennai, April 18(BPNS)

While the authorities are not contemplating a lockdown in Tamil Nadu, stringent measures will be taken to curtail the spread of the contagious disease. With Covid cases surging up, the Chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister, senior administrative officials including Chief Secretary and DG of Police are meeting virtually on Sunday to finalise the strategy to be enforced to check the spread of the pandemic.

Night curfew is almost certain in the state from 8 pm since Sunday and there will be strong measures on whether the people are allowed to go to malls and entertainment places. Even though the government has allowed the functioning of cinema theaters, the government departments have already informed the state government to stop allowing the functioning of these theaters.

Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan while speaking to BPNS said, “We will have to take strong measures and the people must understand that social distancing and wearing of masks have to be continued without any fail. We must avoid unnecessary gathering and strictly follow Covid protocol as Tamil Nadu is not immune to the pandemic.”

The state has 65,635 active cases as on Saturday with 9344 new cases and 5263 cases getting discharged. 39 deaths were reported on Saturday from the state of which 22 are from Chennai. The capital city also witnessed 2,884 fresh cases on Saturday.

23 districts reported fresh three digit cases on Saturday and 11 of these districts had more than 200 new cases. Chengalpet registered 807 new active cases and 3 deaths.

Kausalanathan, a 64 year old  retired bank employee while speaking to BPNS said, “ I am afraid that there may be more restrictions and with the cases swelling the government may not go back on these restrictions. There is a shortage of vaccines also and I am yet to get the second dose of the vaccine even though it was scheduled for last Friday. Health officials are now saying that this may take time.