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Delhi Government Imposes New Restrictions Amid COVID Surge

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that the COVID-19 situation in Delhi is “very serious” with over 10K+ new cases. He urged people not to go out of their homes unless it is super urgent, and use face masks properly, keep the sanitizers and practice social distancing.

The Chief Minister confessed that his government does not want to impose a lockdown. “I believe lockdown is not a solution to deal with COVID-19. It should only be imposed if the hospital system collapses,” he said. But due to the surge in COVID cases in the national capital, the government needs to impose new restrictions.

What Are The New Restrictions?

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Prohibition of all types of gatherings, reduced size of weddings and funerals, running of public transport at half seating capacity, and scaled-down presence in government offices, however, the DDMA has allowed students of class IX-XII to be called to schools for guidance by teachers. Except for this, all Delhi government and private schools will remain closed.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) said that the order issued by it on Friday suspending all academic and examination activities “stands”. A negative RT-PCR report, not older than 72 hours prior to undertaking a journey, will be compulsory for persons arriving from Maharashtra to Delhi by air. Those found without a negative report will have to remain quarantined for 14 days, the order said.

All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural or religious, festival related and other gatherings and congregations will be prohibited, the order said. It said all swimming pools, except those being used for training of sportspersons for participation in national and international events, will be closed.

Funerals & Marriages

Funerals will be allowed to be attended by 20 persons only while gatherings for marriages will have an upper limit of 50 persons. 

Restaurants 

Restaurants and bars are allowed up to 50 percent of their seating capacity, stated the order. 

Public Transport

The Delhi Metro will run at 50 percent of coach capacity. The DTC and Cluster buses too will run at half their capacity, stipulated the order.

Sports Events

Stadiums can organize sports events but the audience will not be allowed. 

Theaters

Cinemas, theaters, multiplexes will be permitted to open with up to 50 percent of their seating capacity, the order said.

Government Offices

All Delhi government offices will function with 50 percent employee strength, except Grade-I officers. The remaining staff will work from home, it said. However, health and family welfare and all related medical establishments, police, prisons, home guards, civil defence, fire and emergency services, district administration, pay and account office, electricity, water and sanitation, disaster management, and municipal services will function without any restrictions, as per the order.

Private Offices

Private offices are advised to lessen the working hours and attendance of employees and follow the practice of work from home, as much as possible, it said. 

Inter-state & Intra-state Movement 

There will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods, the order stated.

Before this, a night curfew between 10 pm and 5 am was put in place till 30 April.

The government has also ordered random checking at the airport, restricting the number of events in marriages and funerals.

 

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