The Tamil Nadu government has, on Wednesday, unveiled another set of relaxations to gradually lift the lockdown and restrictions in the state. The fresh relaxations have come a week after the government has poured large-scale mitigation of the lockdown as part of the fourth phase of unlocking the nationwide lockdown. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shanmugam has issued fresh guidelines and relaxations in which the government has modified certain standard operating procedures that were issued for various services that were resumed on September 1. According to the reports, through the fresh relaxations, the government has allowed vehicles used for transportation of staff to offices, workplaces, industries, factories, and establishments to carry 60% of its seating capacity.

Earlier, the government had allowed such vehicles to carry 30-40% of its capacity. In the order, the Chief Secretary had encouraged shops, restaurants, gymnasiums, and driving schools to install the cross ventilation at their establishments to ensure to have proper ventilation facilities. According to unlocking guidelines, the establishments are mandated to maintain the range of air conditioners from 24 to 30-degree celsius, as per the protocol of the Central Public Works Department. 

The guidelines said that cross ventilation should be adequate and the air circulation system should allow fresh and treated fresh air with fresh air level more than 50%. The Chief Secretary said that the workplaces shall have an appropriate time gap between the shifts and will stagger the lunch break for employees replacing the existing interval of one-hour at the establishments. 

The government order has allowed the non-essential visitors at the sites while previously, the government had strictly prohibited the grounds of non-essential visitors. The order said that the number of visitors per day may be fixed and entry may be restricted. The government has also given relaxation for the industries in easing the transports of the employees. 

Earlier, the industries had arranged for special transportation facilities for the workplaces as the lockdown has limited and restricted the movements of public transports and vehicles. Though the public transports have been resumed, the employees can commute in their cars and three persons are allowed in addition to the driver of the vehicle. 

On September 1, the state government has poured major relaxations and it has repealed the system of e-pass for inter-districts transports and it also has permitted the resumption of public and private transports, special trains, and metro rail services from September 7. The government has also allowed the resumption of shopping malls, places of worship, economic corridors including IT companies and industries.