Delhi extends lockdown by a week as India’s capital struggles to contain virus

Gulf Today Report

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced to extend the lockdown in the city for one more week as national capital struggles to  contain the raging second wave of the COVID-19.

Earlier on April 26, the Chief Minister had extended the week-long lockdown in the national capital till May 3.

The national capital has been witnessing a massive surge in the number of COVID-19 cases since the past few weeks.

As per the data received on Saturday morning, the city recorded over 27,000 new cases and 375 deaths in the past 24 hours - the 13th straight day when Delhi reported more than 20,000 cases a day.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, "Lockdown in Delhi is being extended by one week."

Kejriwal said on Saturday that COVID-19 vaccination for citizens in the age group of 18-44 year will commence in the national capital from May 3.

While the third phase of the nationwide inoculation drive for all those above 18 years of age commenced on Saturday, only a handful of the states have launched the process due to limited supply of vaccine doses.

Kejriwal on Saturday visited a polyclinic in Saraswati Vihar for the symbolic start of the vaccination drive.

"The vaccination drive for citizens in the age group of 18-44 years will begin in Delhi from May 3. The Delhi government has already received 4.5 lakh vaccines and now they are being distributed to all the districts," the Chief Minister said.

Kejriwal also appealed to every citizen that the vaccination process is not walk-in yet, so they shouldn't queue up at the centres.

The Chief Minister assured that everyone will be given appointment for vaccination and they should get themselves registered online.

"Delhi is facing an acute oxygen crisis; there is a demand for 976 MT oxygen per day, but the Centre has allotted just 490 MT. On Friday, we received just 312 MT of oxygen. The Delhi government is cracking down on black marketing of medicines, but right now the most important thing is oxygen," Kejriwal said.

He also said that the Delhi government has set up the infrastructure of beds for COVID-19 patients, but it is unable to operate them because of the oxygen crisis.

With regard to black marketing of Remdesivir and ambulance facilities, Kejriwal said, "The enforcement teams of the police and the Delhi government are catching all those engaged in black marketing. But the only way to tackle this is by increasing the number of beds on a large scale, in particular, the oxygen beds."

Relatives carry the body of a person who died of COVID-19 as multiple pyres of other COVID-19 victims burn at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 1, 2021.