Gzb residents decry Delhi’s decision, health dept pleased

GHAZIABAD: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to seal Delhi borders for the next one week has sparked sharp criticism from Ghaziabad residents, but the district’s health department officials were more receptive of the decision -- they believe it will reduce number of Covid-19 cases in Ghaziabad, as many of these cases, reported over the past one month, had links to Delhi.

The Ghaziabad district has already sealed all its borders with Delhi since April 20 and imposed more restrictions on May 25, attributing a surge in Covid-19 cases in the district to Delhi. Kejriwal’s decision to seal borders came after Delhi reported over 1,000 Covid-19 cases for the fourth day in a row on Sunday.

“As per our estimates, over 100 of 319 cases reported in Ghaziabad (from March 5 to May 31) are of people who had travelled to Delhi for various purposes, including for treatment at Delhi hospitals. The decision to seal Delhi’s borders will surely bring down the number of such cases in Ghaziabad ,” Dr NK Gupta, chief medical officer, Ghaziabad, said.

As on Monday, the tally of Covid-19 cases in the district stood at 331, with 12 additions.

Ghaziabad residents are unhappy with Delhi’s decision. “It is a late decision. It should have been taken up in the initial stages. It seems that we the people of NCR are being experimented upon. If one week of sealing fails, what will be the further course of action?” colonel (retired) TP Tyagi, president of the flat owners’ federation, said.

Other residents said a complete sealing of borders will jeopardise thousands of people who commute between two cities for work.