COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu

[20] On 30 March, 17 new cases were reported, highest to date in the state[12] - 10 male patients from Erode, all of whom have travelled to Delhi were in contact with the Thailand tourists, 5 in Chennai and 1 each in Karur and Madurai.

[23] Officials had discovered that at least 80 out of 124 confirmed cases (79 per cent) in Tamil Nadu were from one cluster as they are direct or indirect contact of the two Thai nationals who had tested positive for on 21 March.

[36][37] Two more deaths were reported, a 51 years old male who attended Tablighi Jamaat at Villupuram and a female at Theni Government hospital.

[110] The director of Public Health defended the state's low number of tests by saying that Kerala saw more travel from coronavirus-affected countries which is why it had detected more cases.

[112][113] In June, 199 Influenza Like Illness (ILI) cases were identified among the 3048 people who attended fever camps set up in Chennai's worst-affected Royapuram zone.

[125] Amid strict 14-day lockdown from 19 to 30 June in Chennai and three other districts, the government looked to increase testing and tracing of the disease in a bid to control its spread.

[129] On 11 April, the Chief Secretary K Shanmugam said that the consignment meant for India was reportedly diverted to the United States, causing delay.

[133][134] In late-April, the state returned the 24,000 rapid test kits that it had purchased from the Chinese firm Guangzhou Wondfo after ICMR's advise.

"[141] The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by Health & Family Welfare Department guides the medical staff in the clinical assessment of suspected COVID-19 patients.

According to the issued guidelines, the maximum allowable daily treatment charges in higher grade (A1 and A2) hospitals were ₹7,500 and ₹15,000 for general and ICU wards respectively.

It included financial support of ₹1,000 (equivalent to ₹1,200 or US$14 in 2023) to all ration card holders, free rice and other essential commodities in the wake of lockdown.

It also provided registered street vendors, autorickshaw drivers, migrant labourers and construction workers in the state with similar provisions.

It had also taken steps to provide medicines for the next two months to patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HIV and TB while also monitoring pregnant women who are due within that time.

[164] On 31 March in the wake of the nationwide lockdown, the government announced a one-month rent freeze for students and workers, including migrant labourers.

[166] On 26 April, the state government enacted a new ordinance to punish who try to block burial or cremation under Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.

[168][169] On 15 March 2020, Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami ordered closure of primary schools throughout the state while shutting theatres, commercial complexes and malls.

[196] Government launched a mobile application to allow people under home quarantine to interact healthcare professionals for getting medical advice and counselling.

[198] Tamil Nadu Government's Health and Family Welfare Dept had issued Standard Operating Procedures for social distancing for offices, workplaces, factories and establishments in April 2020.

It also planned to distribute masks to about 46.37 lakh students of class 10 and higher secondary, besides teachers and other staff during the examination period.

[202][159] The government had also issued appointment order to recruit 530 doctors, 1,000 nurses and 1,508 lab technicians with immediate effect due to the situation.

[203][193] On 3 April, in order to ease the strain on the state's healthcare system, the government announced an incentive package of 30% capital investment with a cap of ₹20 crore (US$2.3 million) for new manufacturers of medical equipment such as ventilators, PPE kits, N-95 masks, multi para monitors and drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and vitamin C tablets.

[207] On 23 April, the state government exempted e-commerce companies of food processing units, export/import packing houses, research facilities agriculture and horticulture activities from lockdown restrictions.

[178] Due to the financial crisis, the state government froze dearness allowance and earned leave encashment for its employees and pensioners until July 2021.

[209] Shops dealing food takeaways, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and fish were allowed to function during the lockdown.

[citation needed] Indian channel Sun TV abruptly officially ended four of its running television soap operas such as Chocolate, Azhagu, Kalyana Parisu and Tamil Selvi owing to COVID-19 lockdown in India which also resulted in inter-district ban and due to artists refusing to shoot for the relevant television serials amid COVID-19 fears.

[235][236][237] Sun TV Network revealed that it will telecast new episodes of their current television soap operas such as Kalyana Veedu, Nayagi, Roja and Kanmani with effect from 27 July 2020.

[238] Vijay TV also stated that its prime time television soap operas such as Pandian Stores, Bharathi Kannamma, Ayutha Ezhuthu, Kaatrin Mozhi, Thaenmozhi B.A and Baakiyalakshmi will be telecast with new episodes from 27 July 2020.

[240][241][242] False information regarding the coronavirus started circulating in the social media platform WhatsApp[243] which led to several arrests in the state.

[247] Twitter removed actor Rajinikanth's video citing as misinformation after he claimed a 14-hour stay at home during the Janata Curfew can stop the disease going from "stage-2" to "stage-3".

[248] The police filed a case against the creator of a right wing YouTube channel Maridhas Answers for stoking communal sentiments against Muslims by blaming them of deliberately spreading the disease.