Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday extended the ongoing lockdown in Delhi by another week up to May 17. The lockdown was earlier scheduled to end on May 10. Kejriwal said that Delhi Metro services will remain suspended during this period. 

Also read: COVID curfew in Uttar Pradesh extended till May 17: Official

He said although COVID-19 cases have come down in the last few days, any slackness would squander the gains achieved so far in the current wave of the pandemic.

The chief minister also said that the oxygen supply in Delhi has improved significantly in the last few days. 

“We used the lockdown period to boost our medical infrastructure and to increase oxygen beds at various locations. The oxygen situation has improved in Delhi. We’re not getting panic or SOS calls from hospitals now,” Kejriwal said.

Also read: PM Modi’s actions during India’s COVID crisis ‘inexcusable’: The Lancet

The Delhi government had been forced to impose lockdown amid a steep rise in COVID-19 cases on April 20. Although the cases have come down and the positivity rate has reduced from the high of 35 per cent on April 26 to around 23% now, but strictness is needed, he said.

“We’ve also started vaccination in Delhi. We’ve made excellent arrangements in our schools. Youngsters are participating in large numbers. We have a shortage of vaccines but I hope the Central govt will help us,” the chief minister added.

Delhi recorded 332 more COVID-19 deaths and 17,364 new infections on Saturday, the Health Department said.