Delhi Govt Issues New Restrictions Amid Covid-19 Surge; Know What's Allowed, What's Not

The new rules will stay along with the ongoing night curfew between 10 PM & 5 AM until April 30th 2021.

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New Delhi: Hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that the city will see some more restrictions as the surge in Covid-19 continues, the Delhi government issued new guidelines for the coming days. These guidelines prohibiting all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious gatherings till further order.

According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), 'all cinemas, theatres and multiplexes will be permitted to open with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity', stated an IANS report.

Public transportation like DTC and cluster buses, Delhi Metro will work at 50 percent capacity. 

Though the Delhi government earlier this month announced that all colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed in Delhi in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

According to the IANS report, the DDMA order stated "Students of Classes IX to XII may be called to school only for academic guidance and support for mid-term exams/pre-board exams/annual exams or board exams, practical exams/project works, internal assessment with the consent of parents."

Restaurants, bars and cinemas will work at 50 percent of their capacity. At weddings only 50 guests will be allowed whereas at funerals only 20 people allowed according to media reports. 

The guidelines also said that swimming pools in Delhi will remain closed, except for training of sportspersons participating in national/global events.

For people travelling from Maharashtra, there is a new set of guidelines, making it mandatory for travelling by air from Maharashtra to Delhi to carry a negative RT-PCR report done 72 hours prior to arrival. Those who do not present a report will face a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

Private companies must encourage working from home as much as possible or employees must be called at staggered times to avoid overcrowding. Media reports say that government offices will work at 50 per cent capacity as well except for high-level Grade 1 officers, but those working at the health department, police, home guard civil defence, fire and emergency services and district administrations will be exempt from these restrictions. 

The national capital reported 7897 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Delhi government's health bulletin released on Saturday. However, the number of samples tested was less compared to Friday which 8521 cases.