Delhi government on Tuesday imposed with immediate effect a night curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the national capital till April 30 amid a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country as well as in the city, as the state is witnessing a steep rise in Coronavirus cases.
The announcement comes after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal decided to impose the restrictions following a detailed discussion with senior state government functionaries earlier in the day -- a move to curb the increasing menace of the pandemic which so far has infected 3,548 people in 15 days.
Kejriwal on Friday had said that Delhi was going through the fourth wave of Covid-19. However, so far no decision has been taken to impose lockdown in the city by the government.
The Delhi government statement read: "A night curfew has been imposed in the national capital from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. till April 30 from immediate effect. The decision has been taken considering the surge in Covid-19 cases.”
The officials said that during the night curfew hours, traffic movement will be permitted and people going for vaccination will be allowed with an e-pass. Similar passes will be allotted to those in essential services and retailers who need to travel after hours for ration, grocery stocks, vegetables, milk and medicines, along with journalists of the print and electronic media. Movement will be permitted to private doctors, nurses and other medical staff with ID cards. Exceptions will also be made for pregnant women and those needing treatment.
The Delhi government order says that the night curfew was being implemented to check the movement of people, not essential services.
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States like Maharashtra and Rajasthan have already implemented night curfews and weekend lockdown to restrain people movement and curb the spread of the virus as the country witnesses a second covid wave.
India on Monday registered one lakh covid cases in 24 hours for the first time in India since mid-September.