Ahead of the Chhath Puja celebrations, Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendra Jain said Wednesday that there will be no lockdown, but that there may be local restrictions in some crowded venues amid a third wave of Covid-19 infections.
Talking to the news agency AND MEJain said: “The maximum tests are being carried out, which will increase even more. The virus can spread easily due to large gatherings during Chhath Puja, hence the restrictions. “
This comes as Delhi recorded 6,396 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the count of infections in the national capital to more than 4.95 lakh, while 99 more deaths raised the figure to 7,812.
These new cases came out of 49,031 tests conducted on Tuesday, while the positivity rate stood at 13.04% amid the holiday season and the increase in air pollution in the city.
The highest peak in a single day so far in Delhi, 8,593 cases, was recorded on November 11, when 85 deaths were recorded.
‘Delhi plans to impose blockade’
Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he will send a proposal to the government to empower the AAP government to impose the lockdown on markets, which may emerge as Covid-19 hotspots.
“It will send a proposal to the central government to obtain permission to close the markets that have the potential to become hotspots for Covid-19,” Kejriwal said.
The Kejriwal-led Delhi government also sent a proposal to Delhi’s Deputy Governor Anil Baijal to reverse his decision to allow the gathering of 200 people in wedding ceremonies and restricted the number to 50 now.
Kejriwal said that the Delhi government, the Center and all agencies are making ‘double efforts’ to control the coronavirus situation in the national capital.
Meanwhile, CM Kejriwal has decided to declare a holiday on the occasion of “Chhath Puja” on November 20.
The Senior Deputy Minister Manish Sisodia, in a November 16 note, had directed the Senior Secretary to issue a notice regarding the holiday on the occasion of the “important festival” of Chhath Puja.
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