The Tamil Nadu government has announced that there will be no sale of liquor in TASMAC outlets till the lockdown comes to an end in the state on April 30. In a directive issued by the Tamil Nadu State Corporation Limited to Senior Regional Managers and District Managers on Monday (13.04.2020), it has been stated that all retail vending shops and bars attached to the shops should remain shut down for the period up to 30.04.2020. All the District Managers have been asked to keep a vigil and ensure that there is no illegal sale of liquor during the ongoing lockdown period. They have also been asked to cooperate with the Prohibition Enforcement Wing Officials and ensure that no untoward incidents take place. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday (14.04.2020) announced that the nationwide lockdown would be extended to May 3, it also remains to be seen whether the shutting down of the TASMAC shops will be getting a change in date owing to the announcement earlier today.

The decision has come at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 10,000 people in the country while claiming the lives of over 300. TASMAC liquor shops and bars account for huge crowds thronging and the move to keep the places shut down for another two weeks is on the basis of not letting the risk of the COVID-19 virus' spread grow further when social distancing during the lockdown period has been advised.

The number of coronavirus cases across the country is scaling upwards with the passage of every day as 10,363 people have tested positive while 339 have died and 1,036 have been discharged. In Tamil Nadu, the number of positive cases stands at 1,104 while 58 people have recovered and 11 have succumbed to the deadly disease.