Covid-19: 6-day lockdown in Delhi till next Monday, announces CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's announcement came a day after nearly every third sample in the national capital tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced a six-day lockdown in the Capital, saying harsh measures will have to be taken to prevent a collapse of the city’s health system. Kejriwal said Delhi is facing the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic and pointed out that 25,000 Covid-19 cases have been reported.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (ANI)

The lockdown, he said, will come into effect at 10pm on Monday, and be in force till 5am next Monday.

"Delhi's health system has reached its limits. I don't say that the system has collapsed but it has reached its limits,” Kejriwal said in a press briefing. The chief minister reiterated that Delhi was facing fourth wave of the pandemic, remarking that the city's health system has reached its limits. "I won't say that the health system has collapsed but it has reached its limits," he said.

Talking about the latest rise in the city's Covid-19 tally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said that nearly 23,500 fresh infections were recorded in the previous 24 hours as compared to more than 25,000 cases in the 24 hours before that, Delhi's highest single-day rise since the beginning of the pandemic.

Appealing to migrant workers, he said, "I'm appealing you with folded hands, it's just a short, six-day lockdown. Don't leave Delhi and go. I'm very hopeful that we won't need to extend the lockdown anymore. The Delhi government will take care of you."

Thanking the Central government for its help, the chief minister said, "In the next six days, we will make more arrangements in Delhi. The lockdown period will be used to arrange oxygen, medicine. I request everyone to follow the guideline."

According to a curfew order issued by the Delhi government, essential services, food services, medical services will continue, while weddings and funerals will be allowed only with a gathering of only 50 and 20 people respectively. Also, private medical personnel will be exempted on production of valid ID cards.

Those travelling from or going to airport, railway stations and bus stands will be allowed to move on displaying a valid ticket, while media personnel will have to display their valid ID cards. There will be no restrictions on movement of essential goods, whether inter-state or intra-state. Religious places can also open but no visitors will be allowed.