Now only 50 guests allowed at weddings in Delhi amid Covid-19 surge

Earlier in the day, both Sisodia and Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain assured that there will be no lockdown in the Capital but local restrictions are likely to be imposed at some places.

No more than 50 people can be invited for a wedding in Delhi as the cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continue to soar in the national capital, the Arvind Kejriwal government ordered on Wednesday. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal has given approval for the revised limit. The government revised the earlier cap of 200 people as Delhi witnessed record new cases of the coronavirus disease in the week ending November 14 and daily fatalities hovered close to 100 a day.

A view inside Kawatra Tents Pandal banquet hall, as business remains affected due to Covid-19 at Raja Garden in New Delhi. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

“This was essential as the larger the crowd at a place, the more harmful it is. Lockdown won’t be imposed but people have to be stopped from gathering in large numbers,” Sisodia was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Earlier in the day, both Sisodia and Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain assured that there will be no lockdown in the Capital but local restrictions are likely to be imposed at some places.

“A few weeks back, when the Covid-19 situation improved in Delhi, the government in keeping with central guidelines issued an order allowing 200 people to attend weddings, up from the limit of 50 before. Today we have decided that the order should be rescinded and the limit of 50 reinstated,” Kejriwal had said at a virtual press briefing on Tuesday before the proposal was sent to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal for approval.

As the infection tally in the Capital has been witnessing a steady spike, the Centre is also planning a house-to-house survey in Delhi. “Planning for house to house survey in Delhi in advanced stage, after Union Home Minister @AmitShah held meeting on Nov 15 on Delhi COVID situation. Survey expected to begin by the weekend and completed by 25 November,” the Union ministry of home affairs tweeted.

The Centre and Delhi government have also stepped-up testing to ensure early identification and treatment of Covid-19 patients. “In another step directed by Union Home Minister @AmitShah, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Govt of NCT of Delhi working together to enhance RT-PCR testing capacity to 60,000 tests by end November. Testing capacity already enhanced by 10,000 tests/day on November 17,” the Union home ministry said in another tweet.

As of Tuesday evening, Delhi’s Covid-19 was over 495,000. The figure has been surging since the last week of October when the city breached 5,000-mark of daily cases. It also reported more than 8,000 cases on November 11 which is the highest daily record so far.