On Fri., 11 June 2021, the State Govt. of Tamil Nadu issued fresh guidelines of relaxations while maintaining a tab on the existing lockdown which shall prevail until 6am, 21 Jun. 2021. While TASMAC – the state managed liquor shops are allowed to be opened for retail business, retail stores selling textiles, apparel, jewellery and restaurants (for dine-in) shall remain closed (at the time of going to press, it was neither clarified by the State in it’s official GO).
Temples shall remain closed, so would other places of worship across religions, however, salons, wholesale markets selling fruits, vegetables, fish and meat shall remain open. The Koyambedu wholesale Market which became the super spreader during the same time in 2020 opened amidst strict guidelines last week.
Public spaces including the Government managed Parks can be accessed by health enthusiasts while morning walking for fitness within neighbourhood areas with safety protocols for Covid-19 such as maintaining 6 feet distance and compulsory masks are also allowed. Medical shops, fuel stations and private hospitals shall remain open as before, an official release said. Spectacle showrooms have been accorded permission to operate as well.
A lot of retail businesses, including the small and marginalised all the way up to mid-size ones are under a huge threat of shutting down their business temporarily or some, even permanently such as WITCO, a 65- year old regional retail chain which sold luggage and travel gear and had 11 stores across Tamil Nadu and Kerala to avoid further business losses.
