Delhi will go into a weekend curfew to "break the chain of transmission" as it tackles a steep rise in Covid cases, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced today. Essential activities like weddings planned ahead will be allowed with curfew passes.
Auditoriums, malls, gyms and spas will be shut down and cinema theatres will be allowed with a third of the capacity on weekdays. Eating out will be banned and only home deliveries will be allowed. Weekly markets will be allowed but with restrictions.
"These restrictions are for your sake, for you and you families. It will be inconvenient but these restrictions are necessary to break the chain of transmission," Arvind Kejriwal said in a video address.
He added, "Don't panic. All essential services will be available through the weekend."
Mr Kejriwal announced the curbs after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and top officials earlier today.
Delhi reported 17,282 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday in the highest single-day surge in the capital since the pandemic erupted. The figure makes Delhi the worst-hit city in the second wave of infections raging through the country.
Over 100 deaths were reported yesterday.
Delhi's rate of people testing positive has climbed to nearly 16 per cent, up from 12.4 percent on Monday.
Before yesterday, the highest single-day spike in Delhi was reported in November -- 8,593 cases.
There are 50,736 active cases so far in Delhi.
Mr Kejriwal had earlier said a lockdown is not the best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus and that it would be enforced only if the "hospital system collapses" in Delhi.
The gravity of the crisis is visible at Delhi's biggest crematorium, Nigambodh Ghat, where the number of cremations has gone up from 15 per day to over 30.
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