As Covid-19 cases dip, Delhi govt seeks to lift weekend curfew, relax other curbs

The Arvind Kejriwal government had sought Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal`s nod to lift restrictions. However, the LG refused to lift the weekend curfew, but said offices can call 50% staff members

New Delhi: As Covid-19 cases continue to dip in the capital, the Delhi government had recommended the lifting of certain curbs and had sought Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's nod. The government wanted to do away with weekend curfew and end odd-even for shops. The Arvind Kejriwal government also suggested that private offices may be permitted to call 50% of staff as opposed to 100% work from home.

The proposal was sent to the LG for his consent. The decision to ease the restrictions was taken by the Kejriwal government in view of the declining number of Covid cases in the city.

But Baijal, later in the day, refused to lift the weekend curfew. “Agreed to 50% attendance in private offices. But suggested that status quo be maintained with regards to weekend curfew and opening of markets and decision be taken on the subject once the Covid situation improves further,” LG House said in a statement.

Currently, as a part of the weekend curfew, from 10 pm Fridays to 5 am Mondays, all movements are restricted across Delhi. During the ongoing weekend curfew, only those involved in essential services and those facing an emergency situation are allowed to step out. Government passes or valid identity cards are required. Even all shops, except those dealing in essential items such as groceries and medicines, were closed.

When it came to public transport, Metros, and buses, they were allowed to operate at full capacity, but without standing commuters. To keep a check on the crowd in public spaces, shops and commercial establishments had been allowed to operate on the odd-even basis. 

Delhi on Thursday reported 12,306 fresh Covid-19 cases and 43 more fatalities due to the viral disease, while the positivity rate dipped to 21.48 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

Meanwhile, on Friday (January 21), India recorded 3,47,254 new Covid-19 cases, 703 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the total death toll to 4,88,396, according to the data released by the Ministry of Health on Friday (January 21, 2022). The active cases stand at 20,18,825.