Delhi: Week-Long Curfew In National Capital As COVID-19 Cases Spike

Delhi curfew: A week-long curfew has been imposed in the national capital in view of rising COVID-19 cases. The restrictions on movement become effective starting Monday night (April 19) at 10 am and will extend to next week Monday morning (April 26) at 5 am.

Essential services will be functional. Weddings will allow upto 50 attendees. An e-pass will be provided for these.

The curfew comes following a weekend lockdown the bygone Saturday and Sunday to "break the chain of transmission."

The decision for a complete curfew was announced after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal met April 19 to review the COVID-19 situation in Delhi.

The daily coronavirus tally in the national capital crossed the 25,000 mark on Sunday, with a record high of 25,462 cases.

As of 8 am April 19, Delhi is among states leading India's COVID-19 surge, behind Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, which are at 68,631 and 30,566 cases respectively.

Delhi Curfew Extended From Weekend To Weekdays: April 19 - 26

Since India outran Brazil to become the country second-worst hit by COVID-19, states have been reporting a shortage of vital health essentials such as hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and medicines like Remdesivir. States like Delhi and Madhya Pradesh are also reflecting a brunt on crematoriums and graveyards. More here.

"Less than 100 ICU beds are available in Delhi now. Oxygen too is short and we are in talks with the centre over its supply," Kejriwal said addressing the public April 19. "This is the fourth wave in Delhi. Our health system hasn't collapsed, but it is on edge... All systems have their limits... We announced the lockdown because there was no other option left."