A worker sprays disinfectant in the wake of deadly coronavirus in Tamil Nadu
The government in Tamil Nadu on Monday followed suit of other states as it ordered a statewide lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus. Announcing the lockdown, Chief Minister E Palanisamy also added that all private-sector employees have been advised to work from home.
The CM further said that the lockdown will come into force from 6 PM on Tuesday and will remain in effect till March 31. During the time period, Section 144 will be imposed in the state and only the sale of milk, vegetables, grocery, mutton, chicken and fish will be allowed, he said.
Further, all the state borders will remain sealed during the weeklong period.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country surged to 415, a spike from the 360 figure the night before, the Health Ministry said on Monday. The figure includes 41 foreign nationals and seven deaths.
Gujarat, Bihar and Maharashtra reported a death each on Sunday. Four fatalities were reported earlier from Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab, the ministry said. The 415 figure also includes 24 people who have been cured, discharged or migrated, it said. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said 18,383 samples have been tested till 10 am on Monday. It was not immediately clear where the new cases have come from.
The total number of positive novel coronavirus cases include 67 in Maharashtra, including three foreigners, and Kerala also at 67, with seven foreign nationals, data issued by the ministry showed.
Till Monday morning, Delhi had reported 29 positive cases, including a foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh recorded 28, also including a foreigner, it added. Rajasthan reported 27 cases, of which two are foreigners. Telangana reported 26 cases, including 11 foreigners. Karnataka has 26 coronavirus patients, the ministry said. Cases have been reported from across the country, including from Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
(with PTI inputs)
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