Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that the lockdown in the national capital would be extended by one more week in the wake of the worsening situation in the pandemic. Kejriwal’s decision to extend the lockdown came after Delhi recorded more than 24,000 positive cases in the last 24 hours and 357 deaths, the highest single-day toll since the pandemic began.
Kejriwal had earlier announced a week-long lockdown starting from 19 April till the morning of 26 April. This had followed a weekend curfew announced by the AAP government.
Announcing the extension in lockdown, Kejriwal said, “When we spoke to the ordinary public, they were also of the opinion that the lockdown should be extended. Therefore, the lockdown in Delhi is being extended by one more week.”
Delhi has become one of the worst-affected states by the latest wave of pandemic. On Saturday, at least 25 patients died in one hospital due to the lack of oxygen supply. The worsening situation has also exposed the Kejriwal government’s claims on improving the healthcare system. Not too long ago, Kejriwal was seen boasting about more than an adequate supply of oxygen in Delhi.
The Delhi chief minister on Saturday made a desperate appeal to other chief ministers to supply oxygen to the city. “I am writing to all CMs requesting them to provide oxygen to Delhi, if they have spare. Though Central govt. is also helping us, the severity of corona is such that all available resources are proving inadequate,” he had written.
The Delhi High Court too had pulled up the Kejriwal government when it attempted to hold the central government responsible for the oxygen shortage.