<span style="color: #222222;">The Tamil Nadu Government has announced a full lockdown in Chennai and its adjoining areas from coming Friday till the end of this month.<br />'' <br />'' In a statement, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has said shops will be allowed to operate from 8 am to 2 pm during the full lockdown.<br />'' <br />'' He also announced a dole of Rs. 1,000 each for all families with ration cards living in the region where the full lockdown is to be implemented.<br />'' <br />'' The various unorganized labour welfare board members will also be given a relief of Rs. 1,000 each to help them during the time of the full lockdown.<br />'' <br />'' AIR correspondent reports, the full lockdown from the 19th to the 30th of this month is prompted by the surging new cases of Covid-19 in Chennai and its suburbs falling within Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts.<br />'' <br />'' The members of the state medical experts team on the pandemic were consulted by the Chief Minister Monday morning in Chennai, which was followed by a meeting of the state cabinet.<br />'' <br />'' Later, the statement was issued by him in which it is said that there would not be any relaxation from the full lockdown on the two forthcoming Sundays, except for medical emergencies, to avoid unnecessary crowding.<br />'' <br />'' However, the regulations for the inbound trains and flights have not been altered. Hotels would go back to the parcel delivery mode only as the permission for dine-in service stands withdrawn.<br />'' <br />'' Tea stalls are asked to down their shutters during the twelve days. Central and state government offices are allowed to function with one third of their total strength.<br />'' <br />'' In containment areas, all the permissions for business and industrial activities are cancelled.<br />''<br />''The fresh stretch of full-lockdown is expected to reduce the intensity of the chain of disease spread in the worst affected region in the state.</span>