Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday assured market associations of the capital that his government does not want to shut down any of the markets, in a departure from his earlier warning that marketplaces could be closed for some days because of a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Kejriwal gave the assurance in his meeting with representatives of market associations of Delhi to seek cooperation in controlling the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
The chief minister clarified that the Delhi government does not want to shut down any market. He appealed to the market associations to provide masks to the shoppers who are not wearing any face cover.
He has already appealed to all the political parties of Delhi to send their volunteers out on the streets to distribute masks. He has also called on Aam Aadmi Party MPs, MLAs, councillors and volunteers to distribute masks free of cost.
After meeting the market associations, Kejriwal tweeted, "Met representatives of market associations. I removed their anxieties; government does not wish to shut any market. They assured anyone not wearing a mask in the market will be provided free by market associations. All shops will also be asked to keep spare masks and hand sanitizers."
In the next few days, 663 additional ICU beds will be arranged in Delhi government hospitals. Also, 750 ICU beds have been pledged by the central government.
