Auditoriums, malls, gyms and spas will be shut down and cinema theatres will be allowed with a third of the capacity on weekdays.
As the national capital tackles a steep rise in Covid cases, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that Delhi will go into a weekend curfew to “break the chain of transmission”. Essential activities like weddings planned ahead will be allowed with curfew passes.
Auditoriums, malls, gyms and spas will be shut down and cinema theatres will be allowed with a third of the capacity on weekdays, NDTV reported. Dine out will be banned while only home deliveries will be allowed. Weekly markets will be allowed with restrictions.
“These restrictions are for your sake, for you and you families. It will be inconvenient but these restrictions are necessary to break the chain of transmission,” CM Kejriwal said in an address.
“Don’t panic. All essential services will be available through the weekend,” he added.
The government has asked officials to take stern action against those found flouting Covid-19 protocols. The government has also taken note of shortages of drugs at hospitals and directed concerned officials to ensure adequate supply of required drugs for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
“Restrictions announced today necessary to curb spread of coronavirus in Delhi. Enforcement of COVID norms will be strictly implemented in public places,” the Delhi CM said.
“There is no shortage of COVID-19 beds in Delhi hospitals,” Kejriwal said, adding that over 5,000 beds are still available for COVID patients and efforts to increase beds on a large scale will also be made.
The Delhi chief minister announced the restrictions after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and top officials earlier today.
In the highest single-day surge in the capital since the pandemic erupted, Delhi reported 17,282 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The cases of infection on Wednesday make Delhi the worst-hit city in the second wave of infections raging through the country. Over 100 deaths were reported yesterday in the national capital.
Up from 12.4 percent on Monday, Delhi’s rate of people testing positive has climbed to nearly 16 per cent.
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