New Delhi: The Delhi government on Friday ordered closure of all malls and haat bazaars in the national Capital in view of the Coronavirus threat, but exempted grocery stores and pharmacies in them.
"In view of the prevailing situation, we are closing down all malls (except grocery, pharmacy and vegetable shops in them)," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
An official in the CM's office said that the order comes into force with immediate effect.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the government has also closed down all the haats at INA, Pitampura and Janakpuri.
The Tourism department's Hop on Hop off (HoHo) bus services has also been suspended, he said.
In another tweet, the Chief Minister said all non-essential public dealing activities will be stopped till March 31, adding that only essential public dealing activities will continue.
He also said all non-essential staff are being directed to work from home, while all permanent and contractual employees will be paid for this period.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister held a meeting with medical superintendents of all Delhi government hospitals.
"Had a meeting with MSs of all Delhi govt hospitals. If corona spreads widely in future, our hospitals should be prepared to deal with such situation - all machines should be working, adequate ventilators, adequate medicines and consumables, manpower etc," he tweeted.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi government issued an advisory for the private sector to allow their employees to work from home till March 31 in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, an official said.
In the advisory, the government also asked people, particulary senior citizens, pregnant women and those affected with hypertension and diabetes, to remain at home.
"All private sector offices (including, multi-national companies, IT firms, industries and corporate offices) situated in NCT of Delhi are advised to allow their officers/employees to work from home till March 31, 2020," the advisory stated.
Markets in Delhi will remain closed for three days beginning Saturday in view of the Coronavirus outbreak, traders' body CAIT said on Friday.
However, pharmaceuticals, dairy and general consumables have been exempted from the shutdown for the convenience of citizens for meeting their daily requirements, the traders' body said.
The JNU has asked it's students to vacate hostels amid the Coronavirus pandemic and said mess facilities would only be available for the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, Jamia Millia Islamia has directed its students to vacate hostels by Monday in view of the novel Coronavirus outbreak but has exempted those from abroad.
All the teaching staff of the various faculties and department have been asked to work from their homes and have been directed to provide reading materials etc. for the assignment of each unit on time, the varsity said.
New Delhi Municipal Council has directed managements of all hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants, malls and banquet halls to ensure that there is proper santisation facilities available at their establishments and no crowding happens at one particular place in their premises. According to NDMC, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have been instructed to keep sanitisers and soap at points of entry or exit.
The Director of FSL Delhi has decided to restrict the visit of police officials at FSL till March 31, reads the Delhi Police internal message to DCPs and other senior officers. According to the message in case of urgency the police officials may contact on telephone numbers for deposition of cases and collection of reports.
The Delhi Police asked the public to not visit the offices of traffic authorities to collect their driving licence or vehicle documents seized by personnel while issuing challans.
The total number of Coronavirus cases in the national Capital rose to 20, according to the Delhi Health Department.