Delhi, Rajasthan order Covid-19 curbs as fresh cases rise

Delhi CM Kejriwal said that there is no shortage of beds at hospitals in the national capital

Rajasthan government has ordered a night curfew for a fortnight and Delhi government clamped down with a weekend curfew – both beginning Friday amid a massive surge in Covid-19 cases.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced night curfew for a fortnight beginning Friday from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am and ordered shuttering of educational institutions, coaching centres and libraries from April 16-30 across the state. Earlier, these restrictions were limited to 10 urban centres.

Also Read | Kejriwal announces weekend curfew in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced weekend restrictions beginning 10:00 p.m. on Friday till 6:00 am on Monday to break the chain of the coronavirus.

On Thursday morning, Delhi reported 17,282 new cases of Covid-19, the biggest single-day spike for the national capital, while Rajasthan reported 6,200 new cases of the infectious disease.

Kejriwal said essential services will be exempt from the night curfew and wedding ceremonies would not be affected as special curfew passes would be issued for such functions.

He said orders were being issued to ban in-house dining in restaurants and the operation of gyms, malls and spas, while cinema halls will be allowed to operate with only 30% capacity.

He said only one weekly market per municipal zone would be allowed to operate to arrest the spread of the virus.

Kejriwal also made it clear that there was no shortage of hospital beds in the national capital and urged citizens not to insist on treatment at a particular hospital.

“More than 5,000 hospital beds were available in the national capital,” he said adding that efforts were being made to increase beds on a large scale.

In Rajasthan, the state government has also capped the number of guests at private functions, marriages and other social gatherings at 50, while not more than 20 persons would be allowed to attend funerals.

Also Read | Night curfew imposed in entire Rajasthan from Friday

No permission for any kind will be granted for public, social, political, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious events, procession, fairs and festivals, the Rajasthan government order said.

Worship at religious places has been allowed only by the management committees and not by the general public.

Cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, amusement parks and other places for entertainments will be closed and there will be no permission to operate swimming pools and gyms, the Rajasthan government said.

The Rajasthan government has allowed restaurants and clubs to open only with 50% seating capacity, and home delivery option has been permitted only till 8:00 pm.