Puducherry Extends COVID-19 Lockdown till June 14

The Puducherry State Executive Committee has extended the lockdown till June 14. The Union Territory has already been under a corona curfew from 10 PM till 5 AM every day. However, all categories of liquor shops are allowed to operate between 9 am and 5 pm with effect from Tuesday.

The lockdown has been extended by easing certain restrictions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 as the union territory saw a steep fall in the number of new COVID-19 cases with 482 infections being reported in the last 24 hours on Monday.

"Accordingly, all categories of liquor shops, viz., FL.1 / FL.2 / Arrack and Toddy shops except Bars and FL.2 Tourism Category licences were allowed to function between 09.00 AM and 05.00 PM with effect from 08.06.2021 to 14.06.2021 (mid-night) by strictly adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures issued by this office vide circular cited under reference (2)," the order said.

It added, "Therefore, it is requested to ensure that the directives issued by this department in the circular cited under reference (2) with regard to COVID-19 safety protocols are scrupulously followed by the liquor shops in full spirit without any deviation and also to ensure strict enforcement of crowd regulation at liquor shops; particularly at liquor and arrack shops located in the border areas."

Class 12 board exams have also been cancelled in the union territory in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation by the administration.

Puducherry has 8,270 active cases presently, while the cumulative number of deaths here has been recorded to be 1,628. It state has also recorded 99,181 cumulative recoveries. 

So far, 35,141 healthcare workers and 22,436 frontline workers have been vaccinated. The Health Department had inoculated 1,77,394 people coming under the category of either senior citizens (60 years and above) or those above 45 years with comorbidities.