New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that the national capital will be under lockdown from 6 AM tomorrow till the midnight of 31st March.
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” he said.
The Delhi CM’s announcement came in the evening as Delhiites observed the nationwide ‘Janta Curfew’, a call for which was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
“Certain exceptions have been made to ensure essential items are available for purchase and basic services continue to operate,” Kejriwal said as he imposed the much-anticipated lockdown in Delhi after similar action was taken in some other parts of the country, including 97 districts from where cases of COVID-19 have been reported.
In the special press conference called in the wake of pandemic, Kejriwal was accompanied by Delhi Lieutenant Anil Baijal, who said: “For preventive measures to contain spread of covid-19 outbreak, directions have been issued for lockdown in the whole territorial jurisdiction of NCT of Delhi from 0600 hrs on Monday 23rd March 2020 to midnight 31st March 2020”.
During the presser, CM Kejriwal informed that so far 27 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the capital out of which 6 are transmission cases. 21 cases are those which have foreign travel history, he said.
The CM assured people in the capital that no essential services like food and medicines will be disrupted.
Under the Delhi Government’s week-long lockdown, E-commerce activities related to essential items will continue. However, only take-away and home delivery from restaurants will be allowed, Kejriwal said.
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As a precautionary measure, five or more than five persons will not be allowed in a group. “However, if a person is going out to buy essential items like ration and medicines, he will be allowed,” CM said.
He also informed that all state borders with Delhi will be sealed but essential commodities will be allowed to be transported. Other key takeaways from the press conference by Delhi Government are:
– All municipal services including water supply and electricity to continue normally.
– Delhi assembly session to take place tomorrow.
– Print and electronic media to operate as usual.
– All Domestic and international flights to be suspended in Delhi
– All religious places to be closed.
– All private offices to pay their employees during the lockdown. The employees will be considered on duty.
– All construction activities to be suspended.
– All factories, offices closed but banks and ATMs will open.
– All public transport will be suspended including auto-rickshaws but 25 percent DTC buses will operate
– Hospitals, petrol pumps, LPG gas agencies, police stations to remain open during lock-down in Delhi
The DMRC has already announced the closure of its services till March 31. Three more fresh deaths were reported today in the country, one each from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar. With this, the total number of COVID-cases has reached 370.
