Initiating Unlock-3.0, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced further ease in Covid-related restrictions in the city starting from 5 am on Monday. The odd-even system in the markets and malls of the national capital will end and all shops will be allowed to open simultaneously from Monday, he said.
In a press briefing, the CM said that restaurants will be allowed to open at 50 per cent seating capacity. However, he added that this will be done on a trial basis for a week and if cases increase, stricter restrictions will be imposed.
“Odd-even system is abolished from the markets and malls of Delhi. Now all the shops in all the markets and malls will be able to open simultaneously. Shops will open daily but on a trial basis for a week. If everything goes well, then we will take it forward. Also, restaurants will be allowed to open but with 50% of the seating capacity of the customers. This too will be on a trial basis for one week,” Kejriwal said.
Weekly markets have also been allowed but with 50 per cent vendors and only one market per day will function in each municipal zone. Salons can open but spas will remain shut.
Government offices can open with full capacity, private offices with 50 per cent capacity. Delhi Metro and buses will run at 50 per cent capacity.
Schools, colleges and educational Institutions, however, will remain shut. Swimming pools, amusement parks, water parks will also remain shut and no public gatherings are allowed. Religious places can open but no devotee will be allowed, CM Kejriwal said.
“If the cases of infection keep decreasing in the current manner, then we will initiate Unlock-4.0. It is a great tragedy and we all have to face it together,” Kejriwal said. Meanwhile, 255 new corona cases were reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours and 23 people died. According to the government, the infection rate is 0.35 percent, while the recovery rate has increased to 98.02 percent.
The Delhi government imposed a lockdown in the national capital on 19 April at the peak of the second wave of Covid-19.