COVID-19 Unlock: Tamil Nadu Govt Permits Bars To Reopen, Theaters To Run With 100% Occupancy

However, the restriction will continue for political and religious events, the release said. 

A health worker inoculating a woman with COVID-19 vaccine | PTI Photo

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced certain relaxations to the lockdown extended till October 31 to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state. The government issued orders to permit bars to reopen, allowed theaters to run with 100% occupancy, and revoked the order for eateries to function till 11 pm. 

In a press release on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government revoked the order curbing all shops, eateries, and bakeries to function beyond 11 pm.

The state government also gave permission for indoor and outdoor stadiums to function in the state for training sports persons in both contact and non-contact sports. It also permitted swimming pools to function for therapeutical purposes. 

Meanwhile, the state government announced further relaxation from November 1. The state government said,

• All schools can begin classes for standard 1 and 8 students on a rotational basis 
  
  
• Theaters can function with 100% capacity by following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
  
  
• Bars can reopen 
  
  
• Inter-state and inter-district buses (except for Kerala) with and without  AC can function with 100% occupancy 
  
  
• All kinds of TV and film shooting with artists and limited viewers can start by following the SOP. Also, all the persons must have taken the vaccine.

However, the restriction will continue for political and religious events, the release said. 

Meanwhile, TN Chief Minister MK Stalin requested that the people above 18 years of age take both doses of COVID-19 vaccine and support the state in the fight against COVID-19.

As of Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government reported 1,140 new COVID-19 infections and 17 deaths.