Delhi government extends lockdown till May 24 to check COVID spread, announces CM Arvind Kejriwal
Lockdown has been extended in Delhi for another week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said, pointing to the Covid numbers which while on decline, is yet to reach below 5% positivity rate.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced extension of Covid-19 lockdown in the national capital till May 24. "We are extending the lockdown for one more week. Instead of tomorrow, lockdown is extended till next Monday, 5am in Delhi," Kejriwal said while speaking to reporters.
"We have been witnessing good recovery following the lockdown. Coronavirus cases have been on a decline," Kejriwal told reporters today. "We don't want to lose the gain that we have made in the last few days. We are extending the lockdown for one more week. Instead of tomorrow, lockdown is extended till next Monday, 5 am in Delhi," he added.
When asked if Delhi metro service would resume, the CM said, "Restrictions will remain as it is this week."
Movement of people and economic activities are prohibited in the lockdown with exemptions for those engaged in essential services and the supply chain of essential goods. Metro services will continue to remain suspended and public buses have been asked to cater only to essential service providers.
The Delhi government had been forced to impose lockdown amid a steep rise in Covid-19 cases on April 20. It has been extended for the fourth time till May 24 morning. It was scheduled to end at 5 am on May 17.
The Covid-19 situation has been improving in Delhi with the number of cases and positivity rate going down steadily in the past few days. The Chief Minister said the lockdown is being extended as the gains made so far in combating the coronavirus cannot be lost due to relaxations now.
Delhi had recorded 8,506 coronavirus cases on Friday, the daily count dipping to below the 10,000-mark again after a month, with medical experts attributing the lockdown as the main factor behind the dip amid the second wave.
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