Industries to reopen in Tamil Nadu

The coronavirus pandemic is hurtling along in Tamil Nadu but lockdown restrictions are being whittled down one by one. The number of new positives topped 740 for four days in a row and the death toll broke through 100 on Sunday, but the state government on Sunday allowed 17 industrial estates in Chennai, the reddest of the red cities, to resume work, but with conditions. Chief among the conditions is that the work force would have to be limited to 25 per cent and safety measures would have to be implemented. Industrial estates situated in non-containment zones can resume work from May 25, but employees residing in containment zones would not be allowed to go to work. There will be thermal scanners at all factories and workshops to screen employees, an official release said. Social distancing would be followed between workers, and the work places would be disinfected twice a day.