SECTION 144 IMPOSED Lockdown to start at 6 am today, until Mar 31
CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL
NEW DELHI: “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted after a joint announcement with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, where both of them stated that Delhi will be locked down from 6 am today to midnight on March 31 in order to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus. The announcement came after six locally transmitted cases surfaced in the Capital.
During the presser, it was also announced that no public transport will operate and Delhi’s borders will remain sealed during the lockdown, but essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue. The CM said added that 25 per cent of DTC buses will run during this time to transport people associated with essential services mentioned above. Dairies, milk plants, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps, ATMS, e-commerce services of essential items like food and medicines will remain open, he said. “Certain exceptions have been made to ensure essential items are available for purchase and basic services continue to operate,” he tweeted after the press conference.
At the presser, Kejriwal said, “We know people will face difficulties, but lockdown is necessary to contain the spread of Coronavirus.”
He added that of the total 27 cases reported in Delhi, six were locally transmitted from one person to another while 21 contracted it abroad. The six cases are those who were in contact with people who returned from COVID19-HIT countries. The way this virus has spread across the country, especially in Italy, Iran and China, whose examples are before us. We have examples of countries which have dealt effectively that clearly shows that the sooner its (coronavirus) spread is checked, the better.
Delhi government has enacted the Delhi Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulations 2020 under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 for preventive and containment of the virus. The Health and Family Welfare Department of Delhi government issued a detailed order notifying the lockdown in the whole of the national Capital, stipulating various restrictions.
The restrictions include no operation of public transport including private buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws. All shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices weekly bazaars will be closed. The order stated all motorable and non-motorable borders of Delhi with Haryana and UP will be sealed. Movement of inter-state buses trains and Delhi Metro trains will be closed. Construction activities and all religious places will also be shut.
The essential services excluded from restrictions include law and order and magisterial duty, police, health, fire, prisons, fair price shops, electricity, water, municipal services, print and electronic media, teller operations including ATMS, food items, groceries, general provision stores, takeaway delivery in restaurants, petrol pumps, LPG cylinder agencies, e-commerce of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals and
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We know people will face difficulties, but lockdown is necessary to contain the spread of Coronavirus: CM
medical equipment. The private sector will have to pay salaries to their employees during the lockdown. The companies will not deduct salaries, the CM assured.
Gatherings of more than five people will not be allowed and strict action will be taken if anybody violates the lockdown. “People coming out of their homes for essential things will not be asked anything and they will be trusted for which they would be coming out.” Compliance of the order will be ensured by authorities including additional chief secretary(transport) Delhi government, the chairperson of New Delhi Municipal Council, the chairperson of Airport Authority of India and
the Delhi Police Commissioner.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava also issued orders under Section 144 of the CRPC, imposing a curfew from 9 pm on Sunday to March 31. According to the prohibitory orders, assembly of any kind for demonstrations, processions or protests is banned. Any gathering — social, cultural, political, religious, academic, sports, seminar or conference — is also not allowed, the order stated. Weekly markets (except for vegetables, fruits and essential commodities), concerts, exhibitions, etc have been banned. Guided group tours conducted by various private tour operators are also prohibited, it said.