REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT-Disaster Management Act, 2005 COVID-19 – Lockdown extended in the territorial jurisdictions of the State of Tamil Nadu until further orders with existing guidelines and relaxations

© GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

2021

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

[Price: Rs.2.40 Paise.

No. 227] cHENNAI, MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021 chithirai 20, Pilava, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2052

Part II—Section 2

Notifications or Orders of interest to a Section of the public

issued by Secretariat Departments.

NOTIfICATIONS bY GOVERNMENT

REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

Secretariat, 3rd May 2021.

No. II(2)/REVDM/282(f)/2021.

[DISASTER MANAGEMENT AcT, 2005 cOVID-19 – LOckDOwN ExTENDED IN THE TERRITORIAL jURISDIcTIONS OF THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU UNTIL FURTHER ORDERS wITH ExISTING GUIDELINES AND RELAxATIONS – INcREASE IN NUMBER OF cOVID-19 cASES - cONTAINMENT FRAMEwORk ISSUED BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY wELFARE AND MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA – cERTAIN NEw RESTRIcTIONS IMPOSED-NOTIFIcATION-ISSUED.]

The following Government Order is published:--

[G.O. Ms. No. 364, Revenue and Disaster Management (D.M.IV) 3rd May 2021,

சித்திரை 20, பிலவ, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2052.]

Read:

1. G.O.(Ms).No.152, Health and Family welfare (P1) Department, dated 23.03.2020

2. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India Order No.40-3/2020-DM-1(A), dated 25.03.2020.

3. G.O.(Ms)No.172, Revenue and Disaster Management (D.M-II) Department, dated:25.03.2020 and addendums issued thereon.

4. G.O.(Ms)No.193, Revenue and Disaster Management (D.M-II) Department, dated 15.04.2020

5. G.O.(Ms)No.198, Revenue and Disaster Management (D.M-II) Department, dated 20.04.2020.

6. G.O.(Ms)No.217 Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II), Department, dated:03.5.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

7. G.O.(Ms)No.245 Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II), Department, dated:18.05.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

11. G.O.(Ms).No.314, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II), Department, Dated : 22.6.2020

12. G.O.(Ms).No.324, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II), Department, Dated: 30.06.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

13. G.O.(Ms).No.396, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II), Department, Dated: 31.07.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

14. G.O.(Ms).No.447, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated: 31.08.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

15. G.O.(Ms).No.541, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated : 30.09.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

16. G.O.(Ms).No.613, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated : 31.10.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

17. G.O.(Ms).No.673, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated : 30.11.2020 and amendments issued thereon.

18. G.O.(Ms).No.820, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated : 31.12.2020 and amendments issued thereon

19. G.O.(Ms).No.84, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated : 31.01.2021 and amendments issued thereon.

20. G.O.(Ms).No.318, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated : 28.02.2021 and amendments issued thereon.

21. G.O.(Ms).No.339, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 31.03.2021 and amendments issued thereon.

22. G.O.(Ms).No.342, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 08.04.2021.

23. G.O.(Ms).No.343, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 10.04.2021.

24. G.O.(Ms).No.346, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 18.04.2021.

25. G.O.(Ms).No.348, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated:20.04.2021.

26. G.O.(Ms).No.351, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 24.04.2021.

27. G.O.(Ms).No.354, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 26.04.2021.

28. G.O.(Ms).No.361, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV), Department, Dated : 29.04.2021.

29. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A), dated 29.4.2021.

30. From the Additional Chief Secretary / Commissioner of Revenue Administration Lr.No. OC-I/ 563/2020, dated:

30.04.2021.

31. Government Press Release No.242, dated: 03.05.2021.

wHEREAS on considering the recommendations of the expert team of Doctors and Public Health Specialists and based on the directives of Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, State-wide lockdown was extended from time to time and lastly extended until further orders till 24:00 hrs of 30.04.2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in Government order 21st read above with various relaxations and certain restrictions.

2. Subsequently, during the month of April, 2021, many restrictions including night curfew and complete lock down on Sundays were also been imposed in respect of the activities already permitted taking into account the increasing trend of covid-19 cases across the State vide Government orders 22nd to 28th read above.

3. Thereafter, in Government order 28th read above orders have been issued by the Government enforcing Night Curfew from 10.00 P.M. to 4.00 A.M. with many restrictions and also enforcing complete lock down on Sundays by prohibiting certain permitted activities and permitting / prohibiting certain activities on other days from 01.05.2021 until further orders for the effective containment of Covid-19 as already ordered in Government Orders 21st to 28th read above.

4. Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued an order vide Government Order 29th read above, wherein the containment measures as furnished by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare for covid-19 has been communicated and it has also been directed to consider the containment measures for cOVID-19, as conveyed vide MoHFW advisory dated 25.04.2021, for immediate implementation in the State, based on the assessment of the situation, until 31.05.2021. In continuation to this, the Additional Chief Secretary / Commissioner of Revenue Administration vide his letter 30th cited has sent proposals for issue of Government Orders in line with the orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for the effective containment of Covid-19.

5. During the meeting held by the Chief Secretary to Government on 30.04.2021, the Health Department Officials furnished the data with regard to the test positivity rate, which reveals that the test positivity rate in most of the districts is on an average of 10% for the past one week. Further, the bed occupancy data furnished by the Health Department also reveals that more than 60% of Oxygen / ICU beds have been occupied in both Government and Private Hospitals in most of the districts.

6. In the Government Press Release 31stread above, it has been stated considering the day-to-day increase in covid-19 positive cases, taking into account the suggestions of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to prohibit certain activities, certain restrictions are being imposed with effect from 4.00 A.M. of 06.05.2021 to 4.00 A.M. of 20.05.2021 due to unavoidable reasons throughout the State, in order to control the spread of COVID-19.

7. Now, therefore the Government in accordance with the Press Release 31st read above and the proposal of the Additional Chief Secretary / Commissioner of Revenue Administration issue the following order under Disaster Management Act, 2005 imposing the following new restrictions with effect from 4.00A.M. of 06.05.2021 to 4.00A.M. on 20.05.2021:-

I. New Restrictions:-

i. All Government Offices and Private Offices shall function with a maximum staff strength of 50%.

ii. Public transport (railways, metros, buses, cabs) to operate at a maximum capacity of 50%.

iii. Big format shops (showrooms with a size of 3000sq.ft. and above), Shopping Complex and Malls, have been prohibited to operate from 26.04.2021. Provision Stores and Vegetable Shops functioning in Shopping complex and Malls are not permitted. Stand alone shops selling provisions and vegetables shall be permitted to function till 12.00 Noon without air conditioning facility. Further, maximum 50% customers, at a time shall be allowed in these shops. All other shops, other than Provision Stores and Vegetable Shops shall remain closed. Sale outlets run by Government / Public Sector Undertakings will be permitted from 8.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon. Pharmacies, milk supply and other essential services shall continue as usual without any restrictions.

iv. Parcel food (Take away service) alone shall be permitted in all Restaurants, Hotels, Bakeries and Mess from 6.00 A.M. to 10.00 A.M., 12.00 Noon to 3.00 P.M. and 6.00 P.M. to 9.00 P.M. Tea Shops shall be permitted to operate till 12 Noon only. Dine-in facility shall not be permitted in Restaurants, Hotels, Mess and Tea Shops. Food shall be served to the Guests in Hotels and Lodges in their rooms only and the Guests shall not be permitted to dine in the restaurants attached to Hotels and Lodges.

v. Social / political / sports / entertainment / academic / cultural / festival related and other gathering in both

open and closed spaces shall be prohibited. All Cinemas / Multiplex / Theatres shall remain closed.

vi. Earlier, funeral / last rites were permitted with 25 persons. Now, the number of persons in respect of funeral / last rites shall not exceed 20.

vii. Spas in corporation and Municipal limits have already been prohibited. Now, all Spas in Rural Containment areas shall be closed.

II. Permitted Activities

1. Night Curfew:-

a. Auto, taxi and private vehicles will be allowed to ply for medical emergencies and to ferry passengers from/to Railway Stations and Airports. Further, essential services such as supply of milk, distribution of newspapers, hospitals, medical labs, pharmaceutical shops, ambulance and hearse vehicle Services and allied medical related activities, goods vehicles, Fuel Vehicles (Petrol, Diesel and LPG) will be permitted during the night curfew.

b. Both Electronic and Print Media shall continue to operate during the night curfew.

c. Petrol and Diesel Bunks shall be permitted to function during the night curfew.

d. Continuous Process Industries and Industries manufacturing essential commodities as listed G.O. Ms.No.348, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated: 20.04.2021 are permitted to function during the night curfew with safety measures in place. Staff / Workers of the above industries and personnel of private security agencies working in night shift shall be permitted to travel by carrying their ID Cards/ permission letters issued by the respective organizations. Further, staff/workers of all other industries who have completed their shift in the late evening or night will be permitted to travel back to their homes by carrying their ID cards/permission letters issued by the respective industries.

e. Telecommunication and its related activities, Night Shift Operations of IT/ITES Companies' workforce to operate from the office.

f. Maintenance and operations of data centres and other critical IT infrastructure needed to support backend operations of medical, financial, transport and other critical services.

g. warehousing activities including loading, unloading and storage of goods.

h. Movement of Goods and workers to / from all sea ports and air ports during Night Curfew and lockdown on Sundays shall be permitted.

II. Complete Lockdown on Sundays:-

a. Essential services such as supply of milk, distribution of newspapers, hospitals, medical labs, pharmaceutical shops, ambulance and hearse vehicle Services and allied medical related activities, goods vehicles, vehicles carrying agricultural produce of farmers, Fuel Vehicles (Petrol, Diesel and LPG), will be permitted during the complete lockdown.

b. During complete lockdown, Parcel food only shall be permitted in the restaurants from 6.00 A.M. to 10.00A.M., 12.00 Noon to 3.00 P.M. and 6.00 P.M. to 9.00 P.M. E-commerce food delivery entities like Swiggy, Zomato shall be permitted to operate only during this time schedule.

c. Other E-commerce activities shall not be permitted during the complete lock down enforced on Sundays.

d. Both Electronic and Print Media shall continue to operate

e. Continuous Process Industries and Industries manufacturing essential commodities as listed G.O. Ms.No.348, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM IV), Department, Dated:20.04.2021 are permitted to function during this complete lockdown.

f. On all days including complete lockdown days, marriages and marriage related gathering shall be permitted with guests not exceeding 50 and in respect of funeral / last rites, the number of persons shall not exceed 20 with the restrictions imposed already.

g. Telecommunication and its related activities, Night Shift Operations of IT/ITES Companies' workforce to operate from the office.

h. Maintenance and operations of data centres and other critical IT infrastructure needed to support backend operations of medical, financial, transport and other critical services.

i. warehousing activities including loading, unloading and storage of goods.

j. In the case of other industries that are not exempted, essential maintenance needed for the purposes of fire safety, machine safety and worker safety shall be permitted during Sundays.

k. Movement of Goods and workers to / from all sea ports and air ports during Night Curfew and lockdown on Sundays shall be permitted.

III. General:-

i. As already ordered, Fish Markets, Fish Stalls, Chicken Stalls and other meat stalls shall remain closed on Saturdays. The above shops shall be permitted to operate from 6.00A.M. to 12.00 Noon on all other days except Saturdays and Sundays.

ii. All Industries shall be permitted by strictly following the Standard Operating Procedures already issued by Government. iii. Minimum 50% of the employees of IT/ITEs organizations shall compulsorily work from home.

iv. All Construction projects/industries shall continue to be permitted across the State except in the Containment Zones.

v. Volunteers, Caregivers for persons with special needs, differently abled, senior citizens and patients shall be permitted to travel by carrying their ID cards/permission letters issued by the respective organizations.

vi. Platform vendors selling vegetables and flowers alone shall be permitted upto to 12.00 Noon.

8. The Government also orders that no activities shall be permitted in the Containment Zones and that the restrictions in the Containment Zones would be further intensified.

9. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation/District Collectors concerned shall take all necessary measures to promote COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. Strict enforcement of wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing must be ensured. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation/ District Collectors concerned may initiate appropriate action for imposing fines on persons not wearing face masks in public and work places. Further, the Standard Operating Procedures issued for various activities shall be strictly enforced by the authorities concerned, who shall be responsible for their short observance.

10. Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section188 of the IPc, and other legal provisions as applicable.

11. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation / District Collectors concerned are instructed to ensure the strict enforcement of the guidelines, adherence of the Standard Operating Procedures issued for various activities and the National Directives for covid-19 Management as in Annexure I.

(By Order of the Governor)

RAjEEV RANjAN, Chief Secretary.

Annexure I

NATIONAL DIREcTIVES FOR cOVID-19 MANAGEMENT

1. Face coverings: Wearing of face cover is compulsory in public places; in workplaces; and during transport.

2. Social distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet in public places.

Shops will ensure physical distancing among customers.

3. Spitting in public places will be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed by the State/ UT local authority in accordance with its laws, rules or regulations.

Additional directives for Work Places

4. Work from home (WfH): As far as possible the practice of wfH should be followed.

5. Staggering of work/ business hours will be followed in offices, work places, shops, markets and industrial & commercial establishments.

6. Screening & hygiene: Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash or sanitizer will be made at all entry points and of hand wash or sanitizer at exit points and common areas.

7. Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., will be ensured, including between shifts.

8. Social distancing: All persons in charge of work places will ensure adequate distance between workers and other staff.

(By Order of the Governor)

RAjEEV RANjAN, Chief Secretary.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE cOMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, cHENNAI ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU