Weekend curfew imposed in Delhi amid surging COVID-19 cases

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a weekend curfew in the national capital amid rising COVID-19 cases. The restrictions would apply from Friday 10 pm till Monday 6 am. 

Also read: Delhi weekend curfew: What will remain open, what will not

In a video message that he tweeted, the chief minister has also sought to assure Delhi that there are enough hospital beds available but requested people not to insist on admission to a specific hospital. “There is no shortage of beds in hospitals in Delhi. According to the latest data, more than 5,000 beds are available,” he said. 

On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 17,282 new coronavirus cases, the highest in a single day. “To control the spread of COVID19, it has been decided to impose weekend curfew in Delhi,” Arvind Kejriwal said, adding that essential services would be exempt. “If you are going to the hospital, or airport or railway station…or to weddings in this wedding season, you will be issued curfew passes,” he said.

“Malls, gyms, spas and auditoriums will be closed. Cinemas halls will operate at 30% capacity only. People will not be allowed to dine at restaurants; only home delivery will be permitted,” the chief minister said.

Kejriwal said one weekly market per day per municipal zone will be operational, and crowds will be controlled at these. 

The chief minister said while people need to travel to work on weekdays, they step out on weekends mostly for entertainment and other activities that can be curtailed at this time of crisis. 

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Delhi is the second state, after Maharashtra, to impose wide-ranging restrictions to control the rapid spread of COVID 19. There is a night curfew in place already that disallows citizens to move at night.

Maharashtra has imposed lockdown-like restrictions, including shutting down all public place such as beaches, gardens and other open spaces. Restaurants and bars were ordered shut for dine-in, except for those inside campuses or forming an integral part of hotels. Restaurants and bars are to open only for the hotel’s in-house guests. All places of worship, schools and colleges, private coaching classes, barbershops, spas, salons and beauty parlous were also told to remain shut.