Capital’s lockdown till March 31, essential, health services open
With coronavirus threatening to spread further, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Sunday announced complete lockdown of the national Capital starting from 6 am on Monday i.e. March 23 till March 31, 2020.
The Delhi Government imposed a complete ban on public and private transport with the order of sealing borders sharing with the neighbouring States. This has been done to prevent the chain reaction and community spread of the deadly virus.
Soon after the announcement, Kejriwal tweeted, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Delhi will be under lockdown from tomorrow 6 am until March 31. Certain exceptions have been made to ensure essential items are available for purchase and basic services continue to operate.”
L-G Baijal tweeted, “For preventive measures to contain spread of Covid-19 outbreak, directions have been issued for lockdown in the whole territorial jurisdiction of NCT of Delhi from 6 am on Monday March 23, 2020 to midnight March 31, 2020.”
In its order, the Delhi Government has said only essential and health services will be kept open.
As per the order, no public transport including private buses, taxis, auto, rickshaw, e-rickshaw shall be permissible. Only DTC will operate with 25 per cent capacity.
The Government in its order further said no domestic and international flights arriving to Delhi shall be permitted.
All commercial establishments including — shops, factories will suspend their activities in the lockdown period.
However police, health office, law and order with magisterial duties, fair price shops, prison, water and electricity department and civic agencies, milk plants, telecom services and ATM/ teller operations, LPG, petrol pumps will function normally during the lockdown period.
“Private employees shall be treated as on duty and will be paid,” the order read.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has marked all homes in which people have been advised home quarantine.
“I appeal to all not to stigmatise such families. Please be empathetic and supportive towards them. The marking is aimed only at cautioning others for their own safety,” Kejriwal said.
