Delhi Covid lockdown news: National capital records 28,395 new cases, 277 deaths

Delhi Police commissioner S N Shrivastava on Monday made an appeal to the migrant workers to stay put and assured they would be looked after, and all help would be provided. “A lockdown has been announced from 10pm tonight till 5am on April 26. My appeal to the residents is to stay indoors. Most essential services, commodities will be available,” Shrivastava said. He has instructed all District DCsP to be sympathetic towards the migrant labourers and extend whatever help and information required.

In view of the increasing Covid-19 cases, the Delhi government has declared early summer vacation for schools in the city. It will now begin from April 20 against May 11 and end on June 9 against June 30 earlier. The parents of children studying in private schools, however, argued that the schedule could have remained the same as the classes were anyway held online.

The last time a lockdown was imposed in the entire country, we saw how a large number of migrant workers began returning to their villages. I would like to appeal to them, with folded hands, that this is a short lockdown, for six days. Please do not leave Delhi. You will lose a lot of time, money and energy in travelling. Stay in Delhi. I strongly believe that this short lockdown would not be extended,” said Kejriwal. Among the exemptions that have been granted is the movement of people for marriage- related gatherings. Up to 50 people will be allowed on producing a soft or hard copy of the wedding card while only up to 20 people will be allowed for funeral-related gatherings. All other social, political and religious gatherings have been banned. Visitors have been barred from religious places which, however, can stay open. Bars and restaurants will remain closed but home delivery is allowed.

Apprehensive of losing their jobs again and being left to fend for themselves, many migrants working in the city began heading for the bus terminals and railway stations within a couple of hours of the lockdown being announced by the chief minister. The Anand Vihar bus terminal saw chaotic scenes with people jostling for space on the foot overbridges and scrambling to take the first bus out or board a train.