New Delhi: The Delhi government will give 2,000 food coupons each to every MLA and MP in the city for distribution among the needy in their constituencies amid the Coronavirus-induced lockdown, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media online, Kejriwal said 47 people have died of COVID-19 so far, adding that 83 per cent of the deaths were related to co-morbid conditions.
Kejriwal also said the government will start COVID-19 testing for mediapersons from Wednesday.
"We have set up a centre. All media houses and journalists will be informed about it. Interested mediapersons can undergo tests from tomorrow morning at the centre," he said.
The Chief Minister said his government has also decided to provide free-ration to around 30 lakh people who do not have ration cards, asserting that there are currently 71 lakh beneficiaries of public distribution system and they are being provided free-ration by the government.
Government will also distribute kits of daily-use items such as soap, oil, sugar, turmeric and salt along with ration for the month of May, he said, adding that it will start it from April 27 or April 28 onwards.
"The Delhi government has prepared a plan of food security for the needy. We will provide free-ration to around one crore people and it means we will be providing ration to half the population of Delhi," Kejriwal said.
The Chief Minister said the government has also decided to give 2,000 food coupons each to every MLA and MP for distribution among the needy in their respective constituencies.
"Every MLA and MP will distribute food coupons to those who did not have ration cards and could not apply for the same online. Those people getting e-coupon will also be given kits of daily-use items," he also said.
There are 1,603 active coronavirus cases in Delhi, while 47 people have died of COVID-19 so far, Kejriwal said, adding that 83 per cent of the deaths were related co-morbid conditions.
He said with a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Delhi government will procure 60 new ambulances and an order has been issued for the same.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal took stock of the lockdown implementation in the national Capital and visited temporary shelters for migrant workers and the homeless to review arrangements.
According to an official, the lieutenant governor visited two schools at Ludlow Castle Number 2 that have been converted into shelter homes amid the ongoing lockdown to combat the Coronavirus outbreak.
Baijal, along with top officers, also made a surprise inspection of a night shelter being run by the DUSIB.
Baijal asked district magistrates to use latest technology like drones and hi-tech cameras to ensure strict compliance in COVID-19 containment zones in the national Capital.
Baijal, who chaired a high-level meeting attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other top officials, observed that the enforcement within the containment zones will
determine the overall outbreak situation as he urged the district administration to put in their best efforts.
The total number of Coronavirus cases in the national Capital on Tuesday rose to 2,156, with 75 new cases and no fresh deaths reported, Delhi government authorities said.
Delhi administration added three more containment zones on Tuesday, taking
the total number of containment zones to 87 in the national Capital.
Meanwhile, a group of 20 journalists in Gurugram got tested for COVID-19 in Gurugram on Tuesday. The technique of Rapid Testing was used by the health officials.