Yellow, Amber, Orange, Red: What Is Delhi’s Colour-Coded Plan To Battle Possible Covid 3rd Wave?

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has issued separate guidelines for four levels of cases severity which are marked by different colour codes.

New Delhi:  While the national capital is registering only around 60 new Coronavirus cases daily, the Delhi government has launched an action plan to battle the third wave considering the spike in cases in other states. 

For effective management of restrictions and relaxations, the  Delhi Disaster Management issued an order on Sunday saying that a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be implemented in the national capital which will send daily alerts to districts about the Covid situation by following a colour-coded system.

Delhi's Graded Response Action Plan

The Graded Response Action Plan takes into account three parameters -- positivity rate, cumulative new positive cases, and average oxygenated bed occupancy in Delhi. Following a detailed analysis of these parameters, four colour-coded levels of alert -- yellow, amber, orange, and red -- and their criteria have been recommended in the plan.

"Permitted/prohibited/restricted activities shall be as per the level of alerts specified in the Graded Response Action Plan with immediate effect and till further orders.

"As soon as any parameter (out of three) reaches the specified level of alert, 'the order of alert' shall be issued and permitted/prohibited/restricted activities prescribed at such level shall become operational automatically," the DDMA order said.

After GRAP is activated, the additional chief secretary (health) will issue daily morning and evening bulletin regarding the level of alert. Appropriate orders would be issued separately as and when the situation warrants imposing restrictions in respect of inter-state travel, it added. DDMA has said to all the district authorities that GRAP recommendations should be implemented with immediate effect.

The GRAP was approved by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal last month, said the order.

Yellow Alert- Level 1

This alert will be issued when the positivity rate crosses 0.5 per cent for two consecutive days or daily new cases increase to 1,500 or oxygenated bed occupancy reaches 500.

"Under the yellow alert, shops would be allowed to operate from 10 am to 8 pm on an odd-even basis. Metro services will be allowed at 50% passenger capacity. Buses can also function at 50% capacity for passengers who have permission to travel, but night curfew would be in force from 10 pm to 5 am", the DDMA order said.

Amber Alert-Level 2

The next level of alert coded with amber colour (level-2) will come into force if the positivity rate rises above one per cent or new cases number 3,500 or oxygenated bed occupancy reaching 700.

"Under this alert, a weekend curfew, as well as a night curfew, will be imposed in the capital. Shops will be allowed to stay open between 10 am and 6 pm on an odd-even basis, and only 33% of passengers would be allowed in Metro rail. Buses can operate at 50% capacity for certain passengers who are permitted to travel. Restaurants and bars would remain shut, but hotels will be allowed to operate", the DDMA order said

Orange Alert-Level 3

The 'Orange' or level-3 alert will be the next stage which will kick in if the positivity rate crosses two per cent or new cases number 9,000 or oxygenated bed occupancy becomes 1,000.

"Under the orange alert, which marks Level 3 of severity, all shops other than standalone ones would remain closed and Metro rail services would be halted. Buses will be allowed to ply at 50% capacity for passengers with permission to travel", according to the DDMA order.

Red Alert-Highest Level

While the 'red' alert, which is of the highest level will come into force if the positivity rate crosses five per cent or new cases rise to 16,000 or oxygenated bed occupancy reaches 3,000.

"Besides this, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will be closed and so will cinema halls, banquet halls, auditoriums, barbershops, salons, spas, gymnasiums, and entertainment parks. Religious places will be allowed to open but devotees would not be allowed to visit them", as stated in the DDMA order.

Delhi on Sunday reported 66 Covid-19 cases and zero deaths, while the positivity rate stood at 0.10 per cent, according to the bulletin released by the Health department.