COVID 19 threat: Shut down continues in TN

With more restrictions like closing down of temples and other places of worship till March 31, put in place from today, roads continued to wore a deserted look, educational institutions, shopping malls, cinema theatres and places where people congregate too were shut, as the coronavirus prevention measures continued in Tamil Nadu.

In line with the government's advisory, the state entered the shut down mode to prevent spread of COVID virus, with major shops, including leading textile, jewellery chain stores downing their shutters.

After a review meeting last evening, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said all temples across the State were ordered closure as part of preventive measures.

The famous Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai, Ranganathaswamy temple at Sriangam, the famous Parthasarathy Swamy temple, Kapaleeswarar temple, Arunachaleeswar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Goddess Mariamman temple at Samayapuram, Lord Murugan temple in Tiruchendur and other places, Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram, Lord Brahadeeswarar Temple, popularly called as the Big Temple in Thanjavur,  besides Churches, including the Velankanni church and places of worship were closed from today to prevent people from gathering.

However, routine pujas and rituals would continue and the public would not be allowed, while carrying out disinfectant works periodically.

The footfalls in popular tourist spots like Kodaikanal and Ooty have come down drastically with several bookings being cancelled as the government advised against travelling and Southern Railway and airlines cancelling several trains and flights due to poor occupancy.

In Chennai, as people remained indoors due to closure of schools and colleges and private and IT firms resorting to 'Work from Home' option, the Marina beach front, the world's second largest beach, which was a preferred destination for the people, wore a deserted look.

The ever busy, Ranganathan street in TNagar area--the common man's shopping paradise--also continued to wore a deserted look after Corporation authorities advised all the shops, including popular retail chain outlets to down their shutters.

Similar was the scene in other shopping hubs of the city and other places.

However, smaller shops and those selling groceries, essentials and vegetables, besides tea shops, remained open.

Even several hotels also reported drop in sales since Monday when the restrictions came into force.

The shut down in the state would be in force till March 31 after which the government would review the situation and take a decision.

The government also barred major congregations, processions, public meetings, summer camps, conferences, seminars, commercial exhibitions, cultural events and sports meet till the end of this month.

The state government, while allaying the fears of the people about COVID-19, also constituted a Special Task Force to closely monitor the preventive measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus in the State.