New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today extended the COVID-19 lockdown in the city which was due to end on Monday 5 am.
The national capital has been under lockdown since April 19, as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) scrambles to contain a fresh wave of infections and a positivity rate that remains over 30 per cent.
“Lockdown in Delhi is being extended by one week,” Kejriwal tweeted.
This is the second extension of the lockdown in the national capital.
Last Sunday, while announcing the first, the Chief Minister said, “Coronavirus still continues to wreak havoc in the city. Public opinion is lockdown should increase. So it is being extended for one week.”
On Friday the city reported over 27,000 new cases and 375 deaths in 24 hours – the 13th straight day with more than 20,000 cases per day.
Delhi’s active caseload is now nearly one lakh – more than double the previous high of around 44,000 recorded in mid-November last year.
The frightening surge in Covid cases has brought the city’s healthcare system to its knees. Hospitals are overflowing, doctors are traumatised, and medicines and oxygen are in short supply.
Today 12 people died at Delhi’s Batra hospital after an 80-minute delay in getting a fresh supply of oxygen. Last week 25 people died at Jaipur Golden Hospital for a similar reason.
–PRT
