Weekend curfew imposed in New Delhi after a sharp spike of COVID-19 cases

Kathmandu : India’s national capital, New Delhi, has enforced weekend curfew after it registered a new high daily COVID-19 tally of 17, 282 cases on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the curfew as a precautionary measure to contain further spread of COVID-19 on Thursday, according to Indian media reports.

Kejriwal made the announcement after holding an emergency meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal and then with Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

In his address to Delhi residents, Chief Minister Kejriwal assured that essential services would not be affected due to the weekend curfew.  People, who are scheduled to attend weddings in Delhi, will be given e-passes to facilitate movement during the weekend curfew.

Chief Minister Kejriwal, however, added that malls, gyms, spas, and auditoriums will be shut. Cinema halls will be operational with just 30 percent seating capacity, according to a report published by Times Now News.

Restaurants will be able to provide home delivery but no dine-in will be allowed. Also, one weekly market per day per municipal zone will operate in a bid to arrest the spread of coronavirus in Delhi.

Amid a massive surge in COVID-19 cases, the Delhi government had on Wednesday issued an order to increase the number of beds reserved for COVID-19 patients at its hospitals, and attach hotels and banquet halls to these facilities. While assuring that there is no shortage of beds in Delhi, the CM said that more than 5,000 beds are still available in the national capital.

Last week, the Aam Aadmi Party government had imposed the night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30. Delhi CM had earlier this week had said that lockdown would be imposed only if the “hospital system collapses”.