Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday (August 30) announced that the lockdown would be extended in the state till September 15.
According to the latest guidelines, beaches would remain closed on Sundays and no public access to places of worship would be allowed on Fridays and weekends.
The government has also banned processions and installation of Vinayagar idols at public places for Vinayaga Chathurthi. Individuals will be allowed to immerse Ganesh idols in the sea but no procession would be allowed in the state in a bid to restrict large public gatherings.
The month also sees Christians celebrating the annual 11-day festival at the Annai Velankanni marking the Mother Mary’s birth anniversary on September 8. For this, the government has requested devotees not to congregate at the Besant Nagar church on Sunday (August 29) the first day of the festival with the hoisting of the church flag, nor for the traditional car festival to be held on the 11th day when the idol of Mary is carried through the streets in procession.
However, the government has placed no restrictions on the functioning of TASMAC liquor outlets which sees people swarming like flies on a daily basis with scant regard to COVID-appropriate behaviour. On top of this, the government has also allowed theatres to open with 50% capacity from August 23.
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