Not possible to lift coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown completely in Delhi after May 17: Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday asserted that the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown cannot be lifted completely after May 17 as he sought suggestions from the city residents on lockdown relaxations after that.

“I want to ask the people of Delhi to send their suggestions on what they want after May 17. You can send in your suggestions by 5 pm tomorrow on the number 1031, WhatsApp no. 8800007722 or e-mail at delhicm.suggestions@gmail.com,” Delhi CM said.

Kejriwal said though the lockdown, the third phase of which ends on May 17, cannot be lifted totally, there could be relaxations.

"This third (phase of the) lockdown is till May 17. On Monday, the Prime Minister asked all the Chief Ministers on what all we should do after that. He also asked each state what it demands were and what relaxations it needed. The Prime Minister gave us time till May 15 for giving the suggestions," Kejriwal said.

He said he is now asking people what they feel about the relaxations, where all is needed and what all things need to be restarted from May 17.

Kejriwal asked the people of Delhi to send him suggestions and ideas on what kind of lockdown relaxations should be provided in the national capital post May 17.

The Chief Minister said that the Delhi government will consider these suggestions and forward them to the Centre on Thursday.

"Should we start buses, metros, auto, taxis, schools or markets? We want suggestions on what all should start and what all should be kept under the lockdown. It is obvious that the social distancing should be maintained," he said.

Not just the public, he said, he will also solicit suggestions from experts and doctors.

"Waiting for your suggestions. The Centre will decide on whether the lockdown should continue or not, or how much it will be there," Kejriwal said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said that the doubling rate in Delhi is 11 days now. 

The doubling rate had once reached 3 or 4 days. If the doubling rate reaches 18, 20 or 25, then we will be more comfortable, Jain said.

With a record 13 more deaths reported in a day, the COVID-19 death toll in Delhi mounted to 86 on Tuesday morning, while the number of cases jumped to 7,639 with 406 new cases, the Health Department said.