Weekend lockdown in Delhi till April 30

Gyms, malls, auditoriums to remain closed Restaurants to operate home-delivery services

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a curfew this coming weekend and the closure of malls, gymnasiums and auditoriums till April 30 as part of sweeping restrictions to break the chain of the Covid-19 infection in the city. According to an official order, the weekend curfew will be effective from 10 pm on April 16 (Friday) to

5 am on April 19 (Monday), even as gymnasiums, auditoriums, malls, spas, entertainment parks and assembly halls will remain closed in the national capital till April 30.

Cinema halls will function with only 30 per cent capacity. However, officials said a decision to extend the weekend curfew will be taken after reviewing the Covid-19 situation next week. There will be no inhouse dining in restaurants, the Chief Minister said at an online press conference a day after the city recorded the biggest single-day jump of 17,282

Covid-19 cases.

However, the restaurants will be allowed to operate home-delivery and takeaway services, he said, adding that bars will remain closed till April 30. The Chief Minister made these announcements after he met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. He said the essential services and weddings will not be affected by the weekend curfew and passes will be provided to those attending weddings.

In its order, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said during the weekend curfew, the movement of people for wedding-related (up to 50 people) and funeralrelated (up to 20 people) gatherings will be allowed. People going to airports,

railway stations and lSBTs will be allowed to proceed on the production of valid tickets.

However, those going for vaccination will be

required to apply for a curfew pass. Mediapersons have been exempted from the weekend curfew. People dealing in food, groceries, fruits, vegetables

and dairy products will also have to seek a curfew pass for their movement.

Kejriwal said the reason behind the weekend curfew was that on these days,

people often indulged in recreation and other such activities that could be “curtailed” and “curbed” without much inconvenience to them.

PTI KOLKATA West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a roadshow campaign for state Assembly polls, amid the rise in Covid-19 cases across the country, in Kolkata on Thursday. —

PTI AGARTALA Devotees wait in a long queue to offer prayers on the occasion of Bengali New Year on Thursday. —

PTI DELHI A health worker collects swab sample from a woman for Covid-19 test at MCD dispensary in Jangpura. —

PTI AMRITSAR People, not adhering to norms, walk at the Heritage Street near Golden Temple. —