A week-long lockdown has been imposed in India’s national capital after Delhi registered a record number of COVID-19 cases amidst reports of the healthcare system crumbling. The decision to impose a weeklong lockdown, billed as curfew, was reportedly taken after a meeting between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
Under the new lockdown, all private offices would remain closed with staff expected to work from home. The government offices would, however, continue to operate normally. Other essential services would also be allowed to operate.
Kejriwal said in a video message, “We are imposing lockdown for six days.” He said that the weddings would also be exempt from the lockdown adding that up to 50 people would be allowed to attend the weddings.
The Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal said that he hoped the weeklong lockdown would help control the spread of the coronavirus in the national capital.
The decision to impose lockdown in Delhi comes days after Kejriwal said that he was not in favour of imposing lockdown but he would be forced to take a call if hospitals faced shortages of beds.
Delhi recorded more than 25,000 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours with reports suggesting that the healthcare system in the capital facing a complete collapse.