Lockdown extended in Delhi-NCR for a week

NEW DELHI: The lockdown in Delhi has been extended by yet another week without any relaxation in current restrictions, including suspension of Metro services and a ban on weddings in public places.
CM Arvind Kejriwal said continuing the lockdown for the fifth week was necessary to ensure the trend of decline in Covid-19 cases and positivity rate continues. “We do not want the gains made in the past few days to be lost all of a sudden,” he said.
The city has been under lockdown since April 19, with stricter curbs imposed last week, which will now remain in effect till 5 am on May 24. In effect, the entire NCR remains under lockdown with Haryana also extending all existing curbs till May 24, a step UP had already taken on Saturday.
Lockdown extension: Don’t want to lose gains made in four weeks, says Kejriwal
During a visit to GTB hospital on Sunday, Kejriwal said, “The lockdown is to continue as it is, no concessions will be given. I hope in the next week, there will be greater recovery. As far as I can understand, Delhi is slowly coming back on track.”
Speaking on shortage of vaccine doses, Kejriwal said it was not clear when the capital would get more shots needed to inoculate a larger number of beneficiaries. “Regarding Covaxin and Covishield, we have written both to the Centre and the two companies to provide us with the vaccines, but there is no indication of the vaccines being given to us,” he said.
Recently, Delhi’s health minister Satyendar Jain had said that the Covid situation can only be considered “under control” when the positivity rate dips to 5% or less and not more than 3,000 to 4,000 fresh Covid-19 cases are reported per day.
All lockdown restrictions already in place for the last four weeks will continue and the e-passes issued to individuals engaged in essential services will remain valid. The two additional measures put in place last Sunday included the shutdown of Delhi Metro, even though other modes of transport continue to ply with restrictions in place.
A complete prohibition is in place against organising any marriage ceremony at public places, marriage halls, banquet halls, hotels etc. Marriage ceremonies can be organised in a Court or at home but not more than 20 people are allowed to attend these ceremonies. The guests are allowed to travel on production of the wedding card.
In an order of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority issued on Sunday regarding the extension of the lockdown, all district magistrates and other senior officials have been asked to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour like wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing at Inter-State Bus Terminals, Railway Stations, shops selling essential items, mandis etc. The authorities have also been asked to keep a hawk eye on any shop of nonessential commodities or services and weekly markets functioning illegally.
The Delhi Police has been asked to ensure effective checking by putting adequate checking points and pickets to prevent unnecessary movement of people during the lockdown.