Delhi government will be enforcing lockdown in the city starting Monday night for a week till April 26 as it grapples with the massive surge in Covid-19 cases. Kejriwal said Delhi’s health system is strained with the daily 25,000 cases that the city is witnessing now.
The lockdown will be in place from 10 pm today till 5 am on April 26, the Chief Minister added. According to sources, all private offices will work from home and only government offices and essential services will be open.
Lockdown in Delhi
After a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, CM Arvind Kejriwal took to addressing residents of Delhi on Monday and announced a strict lockdown in the city which recorded over 25,000 Covid-19 cases on Sunday.
Kejriwal announced on Monday, “There will be a small lockdown in Delhi from 10 pm tonight. Essential services will continue. Marriage ceremonies will be allowed with a gathering of only 50 people.”
Sources have said all private offices will have to work from home during the lockdown period in Delhi and only essential services and government establishments will function from office.
#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appeals to the migrant labourers. He says, "I appeal to you with folded hands. It's a small lockdown, only for 6 days. Don't leave Delhi & go. I'm very hopeful that we won't need to further extend the lockdown…Govt will take care of you." pic.twitter.com/OsFCytHCNu
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2021
Kejriwal also said, “Over the past few days Delhi has witnessed over 25,000 daily cases. Delhi recorded around 23,500 Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours. Such massive number of cases will crumble any functional health system in the world. Delhi’s health infrastructure is under tremendous pressure at the moment.”
“This morning I saw there were less than 100 ICU beds available across Delhi hospitals,” said Kejriwal while appealing to residents to abide by the Delhi lockdown guidelines.
He added, “In the next 6 days, we will make arrangements for more beds in Delhi. We thank the central government for helping us. The lockdown period will be used to arrange oxygen, medicine. I request everyone to follow the guidelines.”
L-G Baijal to write to Yogi Adityanath
L-G Baijal has instructed the issues of migrant labour to be addressed. He will be writing to UP CM Yogi Adityanath with regards to oxygen supply and also speak to Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan about getting more beds.
The Delhi government had earlier announced a weekend curfew that ended at 5 am on Monday. Roads and markets remained deserted over the weekend in Delhi as Covid-19 cases crossed a new high of 25,000.
In view of a huge spike in Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the high court on Monday ordered district courts to take up only urgent matters and that too through video conferencing.
Delhi on Sunday recorded the biggest jump in its daily Covid-19 tally with 25,462 fresh cases, while the positivity rate shot up to 29.74% — meaning almost every third sample being tested in the city is turning out to be positive.
