Delhi opens doors, shuts out neighbours

NEWDELHI: Delhi has eased restrictions on shops and markets and allowed salons to open, but at the same time put stringent curbs on interstate travel for a week while deciding against opening malls and places of worship, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday, aiming to strike a cautious balance and protect the city’s health care resources on the day coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Capital crossed the 20,000-mark.

Two days after the central government allowed the opening of religious places, malls and hotels and dine-in restaurants from June 8, the Delhi government’s guidelines, for now, did not approve any of these activities that have been prohibited in the city-state since March 25, the day a nationwide lockdown was first imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19. According to a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, an assessment of the ground situation will be conducted on June 7 before taking a call on possible relaxations in line with the central guidelines.

The lockdown in containment zones will continue till June 30.

Addressing a digital news briefing, the chief minister sought suggestions from the public on whether the borders should continue to remain sealed beyond this week. He said people from across the country come to Delhi for medical treatment not only because it is the best among all states but also because it is free of cost. He expressed concern that there could be an influx of patients in Delhi’s hospitals, filling up its 9,500 beds in “just twothree days”.

“What should we do? Should Delhi borders be opened? We have a number of suggestions, but we need your guidance,” Kejriwal said. The government order said that those part of essential services, government officers with valid ID and those having travel passes issued by any district administration or the concerned authority will be allowed to travel to and from Delhi.

THE KEJRIWAL GOVT HAS PUT STRINGENT CURBS ON INTERSTATE TRAVEL FOR A WEEK