New Delhi: The Delhi government has asked the Centre for permission to close markets, if need be, for a few days if it is found that due to not wearing of masks or adherence to social distancing norms there, they could turn into COVID-19 hotspots. In view of the impending wedding season, it has also decided to reduce the number of people present in such ceremonies from 200 to 50.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said in view of the surge in cases during Diwali, the government has decided to approach the Centre and is forwarding it a proposal to this effect through Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
With 3,797 new COVID cases being added and 99 people losing their lives due to the novel coronavirus during the past 24 hours, Kejriwal, who had earlier declared that a “third wave” was upon the residents, said a need was felt to strictly enforce the norms designed to curb the virus spread.
During the past day, around 29,000 tests for COVID were conducted in Delhi, where 4,000 containment zones continue to exist due to the large number of positive cases.
COVID curbs flouted in markets during Diwali
Explaining the rationale behind seeking more lockdowns of markets, Kejriwal said: “We saw that in some markets during Diwali neither were people wearing masks nor were they adhering to social distancing norms, due to which the number of COVID cases rose sharply.”
He said the Centre had earlier issued guidelines which stated that if any state government wants to impose a lockdown at a local level, then it would have to take the permission of the Centre. As such, he added, “a proposal is being sent to the Central Government.”
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The proposal, Kejriwal said, is a “general” one. He said with the Diwali now over, he was hopeful that the rush in the markets would subside. “But if need be and if despite all efforts we will find that social distancing norms are not being followed in any market and people are not wearing masks there, which could make it a COVID hotspot, then in that case we have sought permission for closing those markets for a few days.” The chief minister said he has also sought the Lieutenant Governor’s permission for sending the proposal.
Order allowing increase in people at weddings withdrawn
On the decision to reduce the number of people in weddings, Kejriwal said: “A few days ago when there was an improvement in the COVID situation in Delhi, our government had increased the permissible number of people in marriages from 50 to 200.”
But now, in view of another wave, he said, “it has been decided to withdraw that order and once again only 50 people will be allowed in a marriage. We have sent this decision for approval of the Lieutenant Governor this morning and are hopeful that his assent would be received soon.”
`Addition of ICU beds will improve situation’
Kejriwal also thanked the Centre for accepting his government’s demand to provide more ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in Delhi. “Their biggest support has come in the form of giving permission for adding another 750 Intensive Care Unit beds for COVID patients. Other types of beds were available in sufficient numbers in both government and private hospitals. However, the number of vacant ICU beds was diminishing and that has been addressed by the Centre.”
But despite the best of efforts, he said, without people’s participation keeping the coronavirus spread under check would be difficult. “All the governments and their departments are making concerted efforts to keep the coronavirus spread under control. But it would not be possible to keep it under check till the time people would keep wearing masks and following social distancing norms,” he said.
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The Delhi government had earlier also deployed civil defence volunteers have been deployed in several parts of the city, including the commercial hub of Connaught Place, to enforce social distancing and wearing of masks. One of the social defence volunteers there said they are imposing Rs 500 fines on people found not wearing masks. “It is because of fear of such fines that most people wear masks. There are many who are not taking coronavirus seriously.”
In most markets, the traders also said closure of the markets would definitely impact trade and their livelihoods. They are concerned that another lockdown could result in a pullback in trade, that only recently began showing signs of good recovery.
Recently, the Confederation of All India Traders had issued a statement saying Rs 72,000 crore worth of sales have been recorded in markets across the country during Diwali. It said the festive season had ended the slump in sales which was seen ever since the breakout of COVID-19 and the imposition of the first lockdown in the last week of March this year.