Delhi COVID-19 situation: Lockdown in Delhi again? Hours after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that the government was sending a proposal seeking shut down of those markets where norms are not being followed, there were reports that, in the wake of rising coronavirus cases in Delhi, lockdown could be imposed in the national capital.
However, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia clarified that no lockdown would be imposed in Delhi again.
Satyendra Jain said that "There'll be no lockdown but there can be local restrictions at some busy places. Maximum tests are being conducted which we'll further increase."
Manish Sisodia on Delhi COVID-19 situation
"Delhi govt has no intentions of imposing a lockdown. We believe lockdown is not a solution in the fight against COVID-19. The solution is -better hospital management and better medical systems. Delhi govt has managed the medical system well and will do it in the future too," Manish Sisodia said.
"I'd like to assure shopkeepers, they need not be scared. We don't intend to impose a lockdown. We want your shops to remain open...If needed, regulations will be increased in some markets -that's what we requested from centre. But it won't be a lockdown in any manner," he added.
"Lt Gov has given approval. This was essential as the larger the crowd at a place, the more harmful it is. Lockdown won't be imposed but people have to be stopped from gathering in large numbers," Manish Sisodia said on capping the number of attendees at weddings in Delhi to 50.
Only 50 guests allowed for the wedding
Delhi LG Anil Baijal gives a nod to the proposal of Arvind Kejriwal's government. Now, only 50 guests can attend any wedding. The earlier limit was 200.
MHA's slew measures in the wake of rising coronavirus cases in Delhi
- Following Union Amit Shah's meeting on Delhi COVID-19 situation on Nov 15, a slew of measures underway.
- DRDO to add 250 ICU beds to its already existing 250 ICU beds and also to create 35 BIPAP beds in the next 3 to 4 days at its COVID hospital near Delhi airport.
- In another step taken after the meeting, already 45 doctors and 160 paramedics from CAPFs have reached Delhi for deployment at DRDO hospital near Delhi airport and at COVID care centre at Chhatarpur. The remaining doctors and medics to reach Delhi in the next few days.
- MHA constitutes 10 multi-disciplinary teams to visit more than 100 private hospitals in Delhi for assessing bed utilization and testing capacity and to identify extra ICU beds in the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- Indian Railways making available train coaches with 800 beds at Shakur Basti railway station. Doctors and paramedics from CAPFs to man these coaches as COVID care cum isolation facility, following a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 15.
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has dispatched 250 ventilators from Bengaluru. Expected to reach Delhi by the weekend. Ministry of Health has delivered 35 BIPAP machines to the DRDO COVID facility near Delhi airport. 25 BIPAP machines for Delhi Govt to be provided by the Health Ministry.
- Planning for a house to house survey in Delhi in an advanced stage. Survey expected to begin by the weekend and completed by November 25. ICMR and Delhi govt working together to enhance RT-PCR testing to 60,000 tests by November end. Testing capacity already enhanced by 10,000 tests/day on Nov 17.
- To bring testing closer to Delhi residents as directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to help Govt of Delhi in deploying 10 mobile testing labs for COVID with a total capacity of 20,000 tests in a phased manner beginning next week.
- ICMR also to help in augmenting capacity by 2,000 tests of existing Delhi labs by deploying more manpower, an increasing number of shifts & placing more equipment & through engagement with private sector labs. Aiming to reach the testing level of 60,000 RT-PCR tests per day by Nov end.
- 5 RT-PCR labs including at AIIMS, Delhi have already started functioning round the clock.
The development comes after there has been no change in rising coronavirus cases in Delhi.
-PTC News
