Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday has extended the ongoing lockdown by another week till May 17. Kejriwal said this lockdown will be more strict this time, Delhi Metro will not operate during this time, Delhi CM said.
During a virtual briefing on Sunday, Kejriwal said he has already spoken with many traders, women, youths before extending the lockdown. He said this covid wave is very dangerous as people are dying due to the infection, to break the covid infection chain, the Delhi government has extended lockdown by another week, Delhi CM said.
What is allowed during this time?
Patients seeking medical help, Pregnant women are exempt during this time. People who are going for vaccination are also exempt, but they have to show their confirmed appointment with the hospital for Covid vaccination.
Medical workers, Central government officials, diplomats, media workers and persons holding any constitutional post are also exempt with a valid ID card.
Essential services providers like bank workers, food delivery workers, stock-related offices, internet services providers are exempt with a valid ID card.
Kejriwal appreciates the people of Delhi for supporting the lockdown and following it with discipline. Kejriwal said his government used the last lockdown period to increase medical infrastructure in the city like increasing oxygen beds and medical oxygen in the city.
Delhi CM said oxygen was the biggest issue in the city in the last few weeks. He said many times city has required more than normal oxygen due to rising covid cases. Now, the status of oxygen in Delhi is improving and we are not getting as many SOS calls as we were earlier, Kejriwal said.
Delhi government has ordered first a week-long lockdown this year on April 19 to break the chain of covid infection in the city. The lockdown has been extended every Sunday since, as cases and positivity rate refused to dip.
According to the health ministry data on Saturday, Delhi has witnessed over 17,000 cases, down from the previous week’s daily average of 23,000.