NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that there
has been a spurt in covid cases in Delhi in the past few days and 'Yellow Alert'
is being given under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and a "detailed
order" will be issued soon. The restrictions will kick in only when the Government
issues the order. The order has not come till late in the evening. A meeting
with the Lt Governor is scheduled for Wednesday.
A 'Yellow Alert' will shut down schools, colleges, educational institutions
and coaching institutes, cinema halls, multiplexes, banquet halls, auditoriums,
spas, gyms, yoga institutes, entertainment parks, sports complexes, stadiums
and swimming pools. The Delhi Metro and buses will run at 50 per cent seating
capacity. Only two passengers are allowed in autos, e-rickshaws, taxis and cycle
rickshaws. The shops and malls selling non-essential goods will be allowed to
be open from 10 am to 8 pm under the odd-even rule. Restaurants will be allowed
to operate at 50 per cent capacity from 8 am to 10 pm. Bars will be allowed
to remain open from 12 noon to 10 pm at 50 per cent capacity. Hotels will be
allowed to remain open. Private offices will be allowed to operate at 50 per
cent capacity from 9 am to 5 pm. The salons and beauty parlours can also operate.
There will be restrictions on all types of gatherings. (SEE: What is shut and what is open: Level I to
Level IV)
The GRAP prepared by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and issued
in last August in anticipation of a third wave of covid is an automatic system
that clamps restrictions without any arbitrary interventions. However, when
the criteria are fulfilled, the Government needs to issue an order in sync with
the level of alert as stipulated in the GRAP. There has not been any "yellow
alert" issued officially by any authority till evening on Tuesday although the
Chief Minister said a "detailed order" is coming. The "yellow alert" is Level
I in GRAP which comes into effect when the test positivity rate (TPR) has crossed
0.5% for two consecutive days or cumulative daily positive cases (seven-day
rolling average) cross 1,500 or average oxygenated bed occupancy (seven-day
average) is above 500. In the Capital, the TPR was 0.55% on Sunday and 0.68%
on Monday, necessitating an alert. However, no other criteria shows any alarming
situation.
"We are mostly seeing mild and asymptomatic cases and there is no need for
hospitalisation in these cases. Most patients admitted in hospitals do not need
oxygen or ICUs... We will have to shut down markets if this continues," Kejriwal
said.
A DDMA meeting is scheduled at 4 pm on Wednesday with the Lt Governor and attended
by the Chief Minister. May be a final decision will be taken there.
Delhi reported 63 Omicron cases on Monday, taking the tally to 142. Other covid
cases were 331, with one death in the last 24 hours. The TPR was 0.55% on Sunday
and 0.68% on Monday.
“We are 10 times more prepared than last time. But we do not want any of you
to fall ill. That is why we appeal to you to wear masks, we have to be responsible.
We are disheartened when we see crowding at markets and malls. We will have
to shut down markets if this continues. None of us wants that. If you won’t
take care of yourselves, who will? We don’t want you to fall ill… These restrictions
are being imposed for you. I know you all are tired of restrictions, but it
is important and there is nothing we can do about it,” the Chief Minister made
an appeal, according to reports.
