<span style="color: #222222;">The Puducherry administration has extended the lockdown till May 3rd, following the increasing COVID cases. Today the Union Territory registered 1258 new COVID cases.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> <b>     </b></span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">While talking to the media persons the District Collector Mrs Purva Garg informed that provision stores, vegetable and fruits shops, groceries, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal fodder will function. Hospitals, medical shops and all medical emergency cases are allowed. Agriculture and its allied activities will be permitted. Rental vehicles and taxis are permitted to ply with 4 persons including driver and Autos are permitted to ply with 3 persons including driver. On the other side, big format shops, shopping complexes and malls will be closed. In Restaurants and eateries only home delivery and takeaway are permitted. Tea shops are not allowed to operate. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">All religious places will be closed for public worship. Marriages can happen with 50 people, while in funerals only 25 participants are permitted. Furthermore essential services like petrol pump, banks, media, electricity, fire, e-commerce and election-related work will be permitted, the District Collector Purva Garg added. </span><br />''  <br />