Kejriwal announces 6-day lockdown in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that a six-day lockdown will be imposed in the national capital from 10pm tonight till 5am next Monday in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Following a meeting with Delhi LG Anil Baijal earlier on Monday, Keriwal said that it has been that it is unwise to push the health system to the brink of collapse.

The six-day lockdown will help the government arrange more beds and medical supplies to deal with the crisis, Kejriwal said. ICU beds are low in number and there is an acute shortage of oxygen, he added.

The Delhi CM said that it is imperative for people to stay at home and step out only if necessary as the country battles its worst health crisis during the second wave of COVID-19.

Delhi, he said, is currently facing the “fourth wave” of COVID-19 as it clocks nearly 25,000 cases daily. If measures are not taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the state health system will collapse soon, he added.

On Satuday, the national capital recorded 24,375 COVID-19 cases and 167 fatalities.