Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to the Centre to immediately cancel all air services with Singapore in the wake of a new COVID-19 variant detected in that country. The new strain, which is said to be very dangerous for children, could invade India in the form of a third wave, he said.
"The new form of coronavirus in Singapore is said to be very dangerous for children. It could reach Delhi in the form of a third wave. My appeal to the Central government: 1. Cancel all air services with Singapore with immediate effect 2. Work on vaccine alternatives for children on a priority basis," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.
सिंगापुर में आया कोरोना का नया रूप बच्चों के लिए बेहद ख़तरनाक बताया जा रहा है, भारत में ये तीसरी लहर के रूप में आ सकता है।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 18, 2021
केंद्र सरकार से मेरी अपील:
1. सिंगापुर के साथ हवाई सेवाएं तत्काल प्रभाव से रद्द हों
2. बच्चों के लिए भी वैक्सीन के विकल्पों पर प्राथमिकता के आधार पर काम हो
Kejriwal's appeal to the Centre came amid reports of experts' opinion that a third wave of COVID-19 virus in India can affect children adversely. While the first wave targeted the elderly, the second have largely affected the youth.
According to an AFP report, Singapore will close schools from Wednesday as authorities warned new coronavirus strains like the one first detected in India were affecting more children in the city-state.
The country has also tightened its COVID-19 measures as it seeks to control an increase in untraceable infections. From Sunday until June 13, gatherings will be limited to two people, and restaurants can only provide delivery or takeout services. Companies will have to make working from home the default for employees who are able to do so. Singapore has reported a total of 61,453 cases since the pandemic started, with 31 deaths.
