Delhi revises Covid guidelines: Weekend curfew imposed, metros and buses to run at full capacity

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The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday decided to impose weekend curfew in the national capital in view of the surge in Covid cases driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, sources said. The curfew will remain enforced from Friday 10 PM to Monday 5 AM.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia while making the announcements revised the guidelines and said Metros and buses would now run in full capacity but no one would be allowed to travel without the mask. "DDMA has decided to impose a curfew in Delhi on Saturdays and Sundays to curb COVID surge. All govt officials except for those engaged in essential services will work from home. 50% workforce of private offices will work from home," Sisodia said.

They said government employees, barring those engaged in essential services, will be asked to work from home. Private offices will remain open with 50 per cent capacity.

Delhi on Monday reported 4,099 fresh COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate spiralled to 6.46 per cent, with Health Minister Satyendar Jain saying the Omicron variant of coronavirus is behind the surge in infections in the city and more restrictions will be implemented if the bed occupancy rate goes up.

The number of new cases and positivity rate in the city is the highest since May 18. According to the DDMA-approved Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a positivity rate of more than five per cent for two consecutive days is one of the criteria to declare a 'red alert' which would mean a 'total curfew' and halting of most economic activities in the capital.

According to the latest government data, only 420 (4.65 per cent) of the 9,029 beds in Delhi hospitals are occupied. As many as 124 patients need oxygen, while seven are on ventilator support. 

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