New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced the guidelines that would prevail in Delhi during the Lockdown 4 imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Kejriwal said some relaxations are being provided by the state government as it believes that people will have to learn to carry out their daily activities despite the threat of the virus. “In our view, corona will stay and our lives will also run. Lockdown cannot stay forever, it will stay in some measure but we will have to get on with our lives – we used the period of the lockdown to prepare ourselves better. We used the period to set up special COVID-19 hospitals, arrange for ventilators, beds, PPE kits and other equipment.”
Schools, cinemas, gym, malls to remain closed
The Centre announced its own set of guidelines for Lockdown 4 late on Sunday evening, leaving it to the states and Union Territories to decide how they want to deal with activities in ‘red zone’ districts. In view of these guidelines, Kejriwal said, “Now we have to move in the direction of opening gradually. Yesterday, the Centre issued guidelines… we have decided to announce some relaxations.”
He began with the activities and operations that would still remain prohibited. “Metro will not run, schools, coaching institutes, hotels, cinema halls, shopping malls, gym, entertainment parks, bars and assembly halls will remain closed,” the chief minister said.
The AAP chief added that the ban on social, political, religious and other big gatherings will continue. “Religious places and places of worship will also remain closed,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal addresses an earlier conference. Photo: Twitter/AamAadmiParty
Barbers, spa, salons not to open yet
Kejriwal said barber shops, spas and salons will remain closed for “some more time”.
He also stated that there will be no permission to move out of homes from 7 pm to 7 am. “People over 65 years of age, children below 10, pregnant women and those with co-morbidities are being asked to stay at home as these sections remain vulnerable to the coronavirus,” the CM said.
While all restaurants will be allowed to open, they will only be able to provide home delivery. Similarly, all stadia will open but events will take place without any audience.
Also Read: Lockdown 4.0 Till May 31: Here’s What’s Allowed, and What’s Not
Maximum of one passenger in rickshaw, two in cabs
The Delhi CM said most personal and public vehicles will now function but with restrictions. “Autorickshaws, e-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaw will run but will be allowed to have only one passenger. Likewise, taxi and cabs would be allowed to carry a maximum of two passengers; Grameen Sewa and Maxi cabs up to 5 passengers and RTV up to 11 passengers.
He added that the drivers will have to sanitise the vehicles after every run.
In buses, he said, only 20 passengers will be allowed and the transport department will ensure social distancing. Earlier in his suggestion to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal had stated that marshals will be stationed at the entry and exit of all buses to ensure that there is no overcrowding and social distancing is followed.
Members of the security forces on board a DTC bus in New Delhi, May 18, 2020. Photo: PTI /Kamal Kishore
Only two passengers permitted in private vehicles, no pillion riding
Kejriwal said movement of individuals and private vehicles will also be allowed, but only two passengers will be permitted in a four-wheeler and no pillion riding would be allowed on two-wheelers.
He said while the relaxations have been announced, offices should try to have their employees work from homes as much as possible.
Staggered timings for industry, local workers for construction
As for the markets and market complexes, he said they will now open, but shops will only function on alternate days on an odd-even basis.
Likewise, he said, industries will open but their timings will be staggered to prevent congestion.
Construction activities will also start but with only workers who are staying in Delhi. Workers won’t be allowed from outside the city, Kejriwal clarified.
Restrictions for marriages, funerals
In marriages, he said, only 50 people will be allowed while for funerals, the limit has been fixed at only 20. Here too, social distancing should be followed.
In containment zones, Kejriwal said only essential services will be allowed.
While acknowledging that inter-state travel has been allowed by the Centre depending on various states and UTs agreeing to the conditions, Kejriwal said some categories of essential service providers and government and other staff dealing in essential services and commodities will be allowed to cross the borders without any hindrance. Also, he said, all vehicles carrying essential goods would be provided easy access.
In the end, Kejriwal appealed to people to wear masks, and keep washing and sanitising their hands to prevent the spread of coronavirus.