Coronavirus / Delhi caps capacities at restaurants, cinemas at 50% under new COVID curbs

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Saturday prohibited all social, entertainment, cultural and other gatherings, capped the number of people at funerals at 20 and at weddings at 50. The restrictions announced in the Delhi Disaster Management Authority order include a 50% cap on the seating capacity in restaurants, bars, Delhi Metro coaches and buses.

The DDMA also barred spectators in stadia and capped at 50% the seating capacity in cinemas, multiplexes and theatres. All these restrictions are with immediate effect and will remain till April 30.

A negative RT-PCR report (not older than 72 hours) has been made compulsory for anyone flying in from Maharashtra. Passengers without a negative report will have to remain quarantined for 14 days. Constitutional and government functionaries and their staff members are, however, exempted if they are not symptomatic. CM Arvind Kejriwal ruled out another lockdown.

Working to revert to November level of preparedness, says Kejriwal

A night curfew from 10pm to 5am has already been imposed in the capital till April 30. All private organisations located in the capital have been advised to stagger office timings and also stagger the presence and quantum of staff with the objective to reduce the number of employees attending office at the same time. They have been further advised to follow the practice of work from home as far as possible.

"It has become necessary to take certain emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of the virus in the interest of public health," the order by DDMA stated.

All Delhi government offices will function with officers of the level of grade one and above to the extent of 100% strength while the remaining staff will attend upto 50% as per requirement to be assessed by head of the department while the remaining 50% will work from home. However, in health & family welfare and all related medical establishments, police, prisons, home guards, and all other essential services shall function without any restrictions.

There is no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods, including those for crossland border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission is required for such movements.

All schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain closed. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged. However, students of Classes 9 to 12 may be called to school only for providing academic guidance and support to students for various examinations after following the prescribed standard operating procedure for Covid safety issued by the directorate of education and with the consent of parents.

The use of all swimming pools, except being used for training of sportspersons for participation in national and international events, are prohibited.

The CM also underlined the laxity which crept into the system and agencies after the third wave of Covid, which hit the capital in November last year, passed and daily cases dropped significantly. "We are currently in a comfortable position with reference to beds and ventilators. We will ensure that the people of Delhi stay safe to the best of our abilities. Lockdown is not an option. We will announce the restrictions in the coming few days. Covid centres are being rebuilt and some have already started functioning," Kejriwal said. He announced that the Delhi government will do preparations like it did during the third Covid wave in November last year to tackle the fourth wave.

The CM said that Delhi has 7-10 days’ stock of Covid vaccines and again appealed to the Centre to remove the age restriction for taking the jab because inoculating everyone will help. He said the Delhi government is ready to vaccinate all within 2-3 months if the restrictions are removed.

"Lok Nayak Hospital has 2,000 beds. During the last wave, all 2,000 were declared as Covid beds. Right now, we have declared 1,500 as Covid beds, 500 beds are still non-Covid. Slowly, the OPD will also be shut down at the hospital and, if the situation demands, all 2,000 will be made available for Covid patients," the CM said.