Puducherry extends lockdown with relaxations, permits reopening of restaurants and bars on some premises

PUDUCHERRY: The Union territory of Puducherry has extended the lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 till June 21 (midnight) with several relaxations.
The territory has accorded permission for restaurants and bar facilities within hotels, lodges and guesthouses to reopen from Tuesday with 50% capacity. These restaurants and bars will be permitted to operate until 5pm strictly following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, said secretary (relief and rehabilitation) and member secretary (Puducherry state executive committee) Ashok Kumar.
Kumar directed the excise department to issue instructions expeditiously for doorstep delivery of liquor products within the Union territory adhering to existing rules and regulations to reduce the footfalls to liquor shops.
The retail liquor outlets including arrack vends will be allowed to operate from 9am to 5pm. "Opening of liquor shops will pose a serious challenge of crowd control. Given the fact that shops had been closed for a long time and neighbouring state opened their liquor vends recently, there may be a surge of the crowd of intrastate and interstate (at the borders). The excise department in joint coordination with police department shall ensure strict enforcement of crowd regulation at the liquor vends," said Kumar.
Other standalone eateries are also permitted with 50% capacity. Teashops and juice shops will be permitted to operate until 5pm. They must ensure 100% vaccination of all eligible staff members within 10 days.
All government departments and offices will function with full attendance from Wednesday. All private offices will be permitted to function from 9am to 6pm and ensure 100% vaccination of all staff members. All shops, commercial and business establishments will be permitted to open from 9am to 5pm without airconditioning. Vegetable and fruit shops will be functional from 5am to 5pm.
Factories, manufacturing units and construction firms must subject their employees to Covid-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) and must ensure that all their employees take the Covid-19 vaccine within 10 days.
All essential services, including petrol pumps, ATMs, telecommunication, internet services, broadcasting and cable services, media, IT and IT-enabled services, dairy and milk supply, pharmacy and hospitals, will be permitted without any time restrictions. All e-commerce activities will be permitted.