6-day lockdown in Delhi; Kejriwal says needed as healthcare stretched to limit
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a six-day lockdown in the national Capital from 10 pm on Monday till 5 am on April 26 and said it was necessary to deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases as the city's health system was stretched to its limit.
The announcement, which came at the end of a weekend curfew, brought back the memories of last year's lockdown and triggered usual responses from people — migrant workers rushing to railway stations and bus terminals in a bid to return home, residents flocking to markets to stock up on essentials, and tipplers joining in long, serpentine queues outside liquor stores.
Thousands of migrant workers gathered at the city's inter-state bus terminals and railway stations to return home even though Kejriwal appealed to them with folded hands not to leave Delhi and gave a word of assurance — "Main hoon na" (I am here for you). Addressing an online press conference, the Chief Minister sought to assure the migrant workers by saying that this short period of lockdown would not be extended.
"I have full faith that this short period of lockdown would not be extended.
We might not have to extend it. Trust me that if we fight this together, we would be able to overcome this. I assure you, the government will take full care of you. I am here, have faith in me," he said.
The Chief Minister said the national Capital's health system is tremendously stretched although it has not collapsed yet, and added
that despite around 25,500 cases coming up every day, it is still functioning. But any system has its limit, he said, assuring that the lockdown is needed to prevent the health system of Delhi from collapsing under the increasing number of patients as there is an acute shortage of medicines, beds, ICUs and oxygen.
"If we do not impose a lockdown now, we might face a tragedy. We do not want Delhi to face such a situation wherein patients are lying on the corridors or losing their life on the streets at any cost," he said.
Noting that the decision of imposing new restrictions was not an easy one, Kejriwal said he has been strictly against a lockdown even as it becomes crucial only after the health system of the city reaches its limit.
This ensures that the number of patients reduces and the health system revives, he said. Essential services will be allowed during the lockdown.
For the lockdown, the categories of people and activities exempted are the same as the ones highlighted during the weekend and night curfews. In its order, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority said during the curfew, up to 50 people will be permitted to attend a wedding, but they will have to show soft or hard copy of the marriage card. For funerals, 20 people will be allowed to attend.
The DDMA order added that religious places shall be permitted to open but no visitors shall be allowed. Furthermore, the order said there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of
essential goods. No separate permission or e-pass will be required for such movements.
The announcement led to panic buying once again with many markets seeing huge crowds.
In the press conference on Monday, Kejriwal said: "Since Corona emerged a year ago, I have come in front of you (Delhiites) from time to time, keeping all facts and the situation at hand in front of you and discussing the same with you.
"One thing we have always upheld, we never gave out wrong information, never lied to you, and presented the situation as it is. If the situation was good, we informed you, and even if it wasn't we told you honestly."
Meanwhile, the traders' associations welcomed the six-day lockdown.
"It was a much-needed step to break the chain of infection," said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
While Delhi on Sunday saw slightly fewer new infections, the city saw 240 more deaths, taking the toll here to 12,361. This is the highest daily deaths reported in the city since the outbreak last year.
