Delhi opens doors, shuts out neighbours
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 20,000mark.
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 two-three days”.
“What should we do? Should Delhi borders be opened? Some people believe that the borders should be opened, but medical treatment in the hospitals should only be given to the residents of Delhi… We have a number of suggestions, but we need your guidance on what should be done. Please send your suggestions on this by Friday, 5pm on Whatsapp (8800007722), or mail (delhicm.suggestions@gmail.com), or by dialling 1031,” 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.
Two big takeaways of Monday’s order were: the reopening of barbershops and salons (though spas will remain closed), and the lifting of restrictions on the number of people travelling in four-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws. While pillion-riding in two-wheelers is allowed, buses can carry a maximum of 20 passengers.
Another highlight was the scrapping of odd-even system for marketplaces. In the fourth phase of the lockdown (between May 18 and May 31), half the shops in a market were allowed on one day and the other half the next day and so on. Now, all shops in markets will be permitted to function seven days a week.
The fourth significant decision that stood out was the imposition of strict cubs on Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Government employees, however, will be allowed passage on producing their identity cards. The move came a day after Haryana decided lifting of similar restrictions on its side, reassuring those travelling to and from Gurugram of a smooth travel experience. The administrations in Uttar Pradesh cities Noida and Ghaziabad, however, have said curbs on their borders will continue, notwithstanding the May 30 central order that eased restrictions on interstate travel.
On Monday, Delhi’s case count stood at 20,834 and casualties at 523. It was the third worsthit Indian state in terms of the total number of infections.
On Saturday, the central government released its guidelines for what it called “Unlock 1”, detailing the first of a threephase plan to resume businesses and activities across the country after 68 days of restrictions in various forms in four stages.
In line with the directive, the Delhi government said the night curfew for non-essential travel will be between 9 pm and 5am, and not 7pm-7am that was previously in force. But among Delhi’s list of prohibited activities were shopping malls, places of worship, and hotel and restaurants, which have been allowed by the Centre in the first phase of its unlockdown plan. To be sure, restaurants that are home-delivering food and takeaway joints are allowed in the city.
People above the age of 65, children under the age of 10 and those with health conditions have been asked to stay at home.
Activities in the second phase of the Centre’s plan — educational institutes such as schools and colleges as well as coaching centres — will be closed in Delhi, like in the rest of the country. The Centre has said it will take a call on this in July.businesses and activities the Centre has listed for the third phase feature international air travel, metro rail services, cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools, bars, entertainment parks, and auditoriums. So are large gatherings, including social, political, religious, and sporting events. These are banned across the country, including in Delhi, and will be taken up in the last phase of the unlock plan.
What should we do? Should Delhi borders be opened? Some people believe that the borders should be opened, but medical treatment in the hospitals should only be given to the residents of Delhi… We have a number of suggestions, but we need your guidance on what should be done.