"No Lockdown, But Schools Are Not Going To Reopen", Says Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia

As per the deputy CM, stubble burning is the root cause of the recent rise in the coronavirus cases, as it pollutes the air that is not favorable to fight against the Covid-19.

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Manish Sisodia, deputy chief minister of Delhi, on Tuesday ruled out every possibility of reopening of schools in the national capital saying that parents don’t want to send their kids to schools until and unless he was sure that they would be safe. The deputy CM also asked all the governments to come together as a team in order to fight the double trouble of surge in coronavirus cases and air pollution stating that the air pollution not just grips Delhi but the whole of Northern India.  "States need to forget their politics and come together as a team, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal requested the prime minister to take the lead on the issue,” Manish Sisodia told the media after the meeting of Arvind Kejriwal with Prime Minister Modi. As per the deputy CM, stubble burning is the root cause of the recent rise in the coronavirus cases, as it pollutes the air that is not favorable to fight against the Covid-19 disease which primarily affects the human respiratory system. On being asked that whether another lockdown can be expected in the capital, on which he replied that lockdown is not the solution as it won’t stop the virus from spreading. "Lockdown is not a solution... today, a lockdown won't stop the coronavirus,” said Manish Sisodia While talking about how to combat the current Covid-19 situation in Delhi, the deputy CM told the media that the Delhi government has asked the center for 1,000 ICU beds. Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised 750 beds out of which 200 have been delivered. "That is a big help, and we are hopeful that we will get the rest too," Sisodia further added. Regarding the reopening of the schools, Sisodia said that the time is not right for the schools to function. "Theoretically... it will be good if schools reopen soon, but as a parent, I think no. Schools cannot reopen until I get assured that my child will be safe if I send him to school," he said. Replying to the question about the students preparing for the upcoming board exams, Sisodia said, "Let's see, I've requested the central government to hasten on the issue, there's still time for the board exams but right now there's no chance of schools reopening." The National Capital Region of Delhi saw a surge in the Covid-19 cases earlier in November. Until now the Union Territory has registered a total of 5,34,317 cases out of which 4,88,476 recovered and recorded 8,512 deaths. Concerned with the degrading air quality, the UT even put up a blanket ban on crackers ahead of Diwali but recorded an AQI of 506 at PM 2.5 on November 15, a day after Diwali.