Delhi under lockdown, still registers record 24K cases
■ Around 24,000 cases reported in Delhi ■ Situation ‘very serious’, shortage of oxygen, remdesivir: Kejriwal
Roads, markets, buses and Metro trains remained largely empty on Saturday as the national capital, grappling with soaring Covid-19 cases, observed weekend curfew, with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sending both an SOS and a warning.
The Covid-19 situation in Delhi has become “very serious and worrisome”, and hospital beds, oxygen, remdesivir and tocilizumab for patients are in short supply, Mr Kejriwal said on Saturday.
The number of Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly with 24,000 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours.
The chief minister said he spoke with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and requested him for oxygen, Ramdesivir and tocilizumab.
The positivity rate in Delhi has reached 24 per cent -- one in four of all people being tested are positive, he said.
“The situation is very serious and worrisome,” Mr Kejriwal said. “Cases have gone up really fast. That is why we are facing shortages even though everything seemed under control until a few days ago. But the speed at which this corona is growing, no one knows where its peak will be,” he added.
MAJOR MARKETS, including Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Khari Baoli, and Karol Bagh and industrial areas like Bawana, Narela, and Okhla, wore a deserted look during the day. However, there was exception near facilities like the LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, AIIMS, and ISBTs — Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan — where people were seen taking the public transport.
Roads, markets, buses and Metro trains remained largely empty on Saturday as the national capital, grappling with soaring Covid-19 cases, observed weekend curfew, with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sending both an SOS and a warning.
The Covid-19 situation in Delhi has become “very serious and worrisome”, and hospital beds, oxygen, remdesivir and tocilizumab for patients are in short supply, Mr Kejriwal said on Saturday.
The number of Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly with 24,000 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours.
The chief minister said he spoke with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and requested him for oxygen, remdesivir and tocilizumab.
The positivity rate in Delhi has reached 24 per cent — one in four of all people being tested are positive, he said.
“The situation is very serious and worrisome,” Mr Kejriwal said. “Cases have gone up really fast. That is why we are facing shortages even though everything seemed under control until a few days ago. But the speed at which this corona is growing, no one knows where its peak will be,” he added.
“Any health infrastructure has limitations. The government is trying its best to increase the number of beds. I hope that we will be able to add 6,000 more beds in the next two to four days,” he said.
Delhi led major cities across India into a weekend lockdown Saturday as the country confronts a fierce new coronavirus wave, with more than 2.3 lakh fresh daily cases that has left many states struggling for drugs and hospital beds.
The country added another record 2.34 lakh cases on Saturday to pass 1.45 crore overall and 1,341 deaths took its pandemic total to 175,649 deaths.
Earlier Delhi Govt had announced to tie up of hospitals with hotels, so more beds become available.
Meanwhile the national capital came to a halt as the city grappling with soaring Covid-19 cases observed weekend curfew to break the chain of spiralling coronavirus infections. It clamped at 10 pm on Friday and will continue till 5 am on Monday. Roads, markets and buses across Delhi were largely empty from Saturday morning. Apart from essential service providers working in pharmacies, grocery shops, hospitals, some restaurants, police stations, and banks, majority of Delhi’s residents appeared to have stayed at home.
Delhi Police Commissioner said, police are strictly enforcing weekend curfew. People who are out of their house unnecessarily are being prosecuted & cases being registered against them. “I appeal to people to respect weekend curfew and stay at home and not face any trouble,” he said.
Major markets, including Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Khari Baoli and Karol Bagh, and industrial areas like Bawana, Narela, Okhla, wore a deserted look during the day.
However, there was exception near facilities like the LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, AIIMS and ISBTs —- Kashmiri Gate, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan, where people were seen taking the public transport.
Those going to inter-sate bus terminals, airports and railway stations, have been exempted from the weekend curfew if they show valid tickets.
On Saturday, shops providing essential services, including pharmacies, grocery stores, food outlets and banks, remained open.
Food delivery service agents were also seen on the roads as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has given permission to restaurants for home delivery services.
Chinmoy Biswal, Delhi Police PRO, said all the district deputy commissioners of police were on the ground to ensure the implementation of weekend curfew.
“The movement of essential goods and services is being facilitated. We have placed banners on pickets and outside the gates of the colonies to tell people about the curfew and asked them not to come outside their houses unnecessarily.
“We are also monitoring the Covid helpline and assisting people who are facing difficulty in getting movement pass,” Biswal said.