The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to go tough on the people who defy the home quarantine in the city. The civic body has announced that it will be tightening the restrictions as a measure to contain the COVID-19 spread in the city, which largely contributes to the state's total COVID-19 caseload. The residents who violate the home quarantine norms will be imposed a penalty. 

The civic body has on Tuesday announced that a fine of Rs 2,000 would be imposed on COVID-19 patients and their family members found to be violating the home quarantine rules and guidelines. The first-time violation would warrant a fine of Rs 2,000 and if they are found to be violating the rules again, the patients and family members would be taken to the Covid care centres.

To enforce the drive of a penalty and tight restrictions and based on the guidelines of the Tamil Nadu government, the Chennai Corporation has appointed two surveillance teams for each zone to monitor and take action against those who are not adhering to the quarantine norms. The team will also monitor the shops to ensure that safety measures against the pandemic are followed. 

The surveillance teams have also been directed to shut down the shops found to be defying the rules. Apart from this, the civic body has appointed over 2000 volunteers for providing food, medicines, and other essential items at the doorsteps of COVID-19 patients to make sure that the patients and the family members who are in quarantine won't exit their residences. 

In a statement, Greater Chennai Corporation's Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said, "There have been complaints that COVID-19 positive patients and their family members are stepping out of their homes. Such acts will increase the spread of coronavirus infection. Hence, the COVID-19 patients and their family members are requested to stay under home quarantine for a period as advised by the doctors."

The statement further reads, "However, if the people are found violating their quarantine norms by stepping out of their homes, for the first time they will be imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. If the violation is found for the second time, the patient will be taken to a COVID Care Center for quarantine." The civic body has also instructed the residents to call 044-25384520 if they find any COVID-19 patient or their family members violating home quarantine norms. 

According to the data shared by the civic body, the Anna Nagar Zone has the highest number of active cases in the city as of Monday. It has 4,976 cases followed by Adyar Zone - 4,665, and Ambattur - 4,621. Around 21% of those who tested positive are in the age group of 30-39 and 18.24% of patients are between 40-49 years.