The Delhi government on Monday announced a citywide lockdown to curb the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases. The curfew will be effective from Monday night till April 26 morning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Monday.
The restrictions will remain in place from 10 PM tonight till 5 AM next Monday. Kejriwal said that city’s health system is under stress, adding that hospitals are facing a shortage of oxygen and ICU beds.
“In order to prevent a total collapse, L-G Anil Baijal and I took this decision. And in this duration, essential services will be allowed and more beds will also be set up,” the Chief Minister said.
“I won’t say our health system has collapsed but it is at an alarming stage due to the resurgence,” Kejriwal further said, adding the overall situation in the city was critical.
Delhi Lockdown 2021: What is allowed and What is not, Complete list of services and activities
What is the latest order?
The order, passed by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), says that there shall be a curfew on the movement of individuals in the NCT of Delhi from 10 PM April 19 to 5 AM April 26.
Who is exempted:
The order, however, gives a list of people who are allowed to move during the curfew. These include:
– Government officials, including employees of public sector units. They will have to show their official IDs.
– Employees working at Delhi government’s essential service departments, such as police, prisons, civil defence, fire, medical services, sanitation, etc.
– All judicial officers and staff members at all courts.
– All private medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmaceutical lab employees, medical equipment suppliers, etc.
– Pregnant women and patients for getting medical services along with an attendant. They will have to show a valid ID card and a doctor’s prescription.
– Persons going for the Covid-19 test or vaccination
– Persons going or coming from ISBTs, train stations and airports, on the production of a valid ticket.
– Media personnel
– Students going to exams and those deployed for exam duties.
– There shall be no restriction on interstate travel.
– Private employees working in the essential services sector
What’s not allowed:
– All private establishments, shops, shopping centres, malls, weekly markets, restaurants/bars, coaching and educational institutes, gyms, sports complex, salons, beauty parlours, water parks, public parks shall remain closed during the curfew.
– All social, political, academic, entertainment and religious festivals or gatherings are prohibited during the lockdown.
– Weddings with maximum 50 guests will be allowed. The guests will have to produce wedding cards on checking and the hosts will have to obtain special passes.
– Public transport is allowed but with restrictions. Delhi Metro and buses will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity. Auto rickshaws and cabs can operate with maximum two passengers, while maxi cabs will be allowed to ferry up to five passengers. The RTVs will be allowed maximum 11 passengers at one time.
– National/international sports events will be allowed without spectators.
– religious places will be allowed to open but no visitors allowed.
