50 allowed at weddings in Delhi; restaurants, metro occupancy halved

| | NEW DELHI
  • 0

50 allowed at weddings in Delhi; restaurants, metro occupancy halved

Sunday, 11 April 2021 | Staff Reporter | NEW DELHI

Amid a surge in the fourth wave of the Covid-19 cases in the national Capital, the Delhi Government on Saturday announced stricter curbs, allowing Delhi Metro and DTC buses to operate only at 50 per cent capacity and limiting the number of guests at weedings at 50, officials said.

The city Government also prohibited all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious gatherings in view of the rise in Covid-19 cases. Negative RT-PCR report will be required for travellers arriving in the national Capital from Maharashtra by air, the DDMA said, adding those without a report will have to undergo 14-day quarantine.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority said restaurants, bars can operate at 50 per cent occupancy. Delhi Metro, DTC and cluster buses will run at 50 per cent occupancy in view of the rising coronavirus cases, it said.

It said colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed in Delhi. Not more than 20 people are allowed in funeral gatherings and up to 50 in weddings, it said. Swimming pools will also remain closed except for training of sportspersons participating in national and international events.

Earlier in the day, he said  imposing lockdown is not an option but some restrictions will be put in place to contain the spread of the virus.

Kejriwal visited the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital on Saturday to take stock of the situation and the facilities provided to the patients in the hospital. 

Currently, 1500 beds out of 2000 declared as COVID beds, more might be declared as per the future requirements, he added.

Talking to media persons, he said, “The last few days have seen a rise in the number of corona cases in the entire country including Delhi. We need to simultaneously spearhead an aggressive vaccination campaign and also put in place measures that can effectively contain the spread of the virus along with making the hospital management equally effective. This is the fourth wave in Delhi. The last wave was in November after which the cases had become so few in Delhi that health system and agencies began to lax.”

“It is imperative that medical staff gain their momentum again and begin to function in the same efficient manner that they did earlier to contain the spread of the virus. During the last wave, all 2000 were declared as COVID beds. Right now, we have declared 1500 as COVID beds, 500 are still non-COVID.

Kejriwal further said that OPD services will also be ended at the hospital if the situation demands. “All 2000 beds will be made available for COVID patients. Whatever is required by the hospitals from our end, will be provided. We sincerely hope and pray to God that no one falls prey to the disease but in the scenario that they do, we will ensure that the hospitals are ready for the challenge and the people of Delhi face no obstacles in recovery,” he said.

When asked about the vaccination campaign, possibility of a lockdown and preparation of the Government in the face of rising cases, the Chief Minister said, “I have written a letter to the Prime Minister asking for adequate doses of the vaccines and to grant permission to increase the number of vaccination centres besides removing the age limit. If these requests are met then within 2-3 months we can vaccinate the entire state.”

“It will greatly aid us in containing and ending the severity of the virus once everyone is vaccinated. At the moment, we have vaccination for 7-10 days and the conditions for administering them, particularly the age limit are very rigid,” he said.

Kejriwal also said that there is an impending need to remove these obstacles that are coming in the way of the vaccination campaign. “We are currently in a comfortable position with reference to beds and ventilators. We will ensure that the people of Delhi stay safe, to the best of our abilities. Lockdown is not an option however we will be putting some restrictions in place to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.

During his review visit to the LNJP Hospital, Kejriwal spoke to a patient admitted in the COVID ward through the video call facility and enquired about his condition. With the help of the video call facility in LNJP, patients can directly talk to their family members.

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda