Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that a six-day lockdown will be imposed in the national capital from 10pm tonight till 5am next Monday in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
Following a meeting with Delhi LG Anil Baijal earlier on Monday, Keriwal said that they agreed that it is unwise to push the health system to the brink of collapse.
The six-day lockdown will help the government arrange more beds and medical supplies to deal with the crisis. ICU beds are low in number and there is an acute shortageof oxygen, he added.
“We are not trying to scare you. Delhi is facing a health crisis, but the system has not collapsed. It is really stressed,” he said, adding that the support of each and every citizen will help the country win the battle against coronavirus.
The Delhi CM said that it is imperative for people to stay at home and step out only if necessary as the country battles its worst health crisis during the second wave of COVID-19. Delhi, he said, is currently facing the “fourth wave” of COVID-19 as it clocks nearly 25,000 cases daily. If measures are not taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the state health system will collapse soon, he added.
Kejriwal also made a special request to migrant labourers and daily wage workers, imploring them to not leave Delhi during the lockdown. He ackowledged the migrant crisis last year that drove many workers to leave the state and said that this time the government will ensure that they are taken care of.
“It is a small lockdown. Stay here, stay at home, and the government will take care of you,” Kejriwal said.
On Sunday, the national capital recorded 25,462 COVID-19 cases and a positivity rate of nearly 30 per cent.
Many of the restrictions still stand as all private offices will continue the work from home arrangement and only government offices and essential services will be open.
Groceries, shops selling food and medicine and newspapers will be open. Home deliveries and takeaways will also be allowed. Banks and ATMs will also remain open.
Weddings will be allowed with a maximum of 50 people in attendance, with special passes being issued for the same.
