Delhi extends Covid-19 lockdown by 1 week; unlocking to start from May 31 if cases continue to fall, says CM Kejriwal | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
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Delhi extends Covid-19 lockdown by 1 week; unlocking to start from May 31 if cases continue to fall, says CM Kejriwal

By, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
May 23, 2021 12:18 PM IST

Arvind Kejriwal praised the discipline exhibited by citizens in following the lockdown norms crediting their effort and resilience for the declining number of cases in the national capital.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal extended the ongoing lockdown by one more week - a decision he said has been taken after consulting with citizens and other stakeholders. Kejriwal said that the process of unlocking will start from May 31 if cases decrease and people continue to follow all norms.

Arvind Kejriwal had said that a decision on extension will be taken after deliberations with Lt. Governor. (ANI Photo)
Arvind Kejriwal had said that a decision on extension will be taken after deliberations with Lt. Governor. (ANI Photo)

"Delhi is reporting more than 1,000 cases everyday, I asked people in the last 24 hours so we can take a decision together. A common opinion was the lockdown should be extended by one week more, till next Monday 5am," the chief minister said while addressing a press conference.

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Kejriwal praised the discipline exhibited by citizens in following the lockdown norms crediting their effort and resilience for the declining number of cases in the national capital.

"We imposed a lockdown from April 20 and within a month due to your discipline and efforts the most deadly wave of Covid-19 till date is weakening," said Kejriwal.

"I won't say we have won this battle but we have a brought it under control" he added.


The chief minister announced during the press briefing that the positivity rate in the national capital has decline further and now stands at 2.5%, much below the rate of 5% mandated by World Health Organization. Delhi also recorded 1,600 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, its lowest daily tally since March 1.

"If we test 100 individuals only 2.5 test positive and 97.5 people test negative," said the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief.

The chief minister also talked about the harrowing shortage of oxygen Delhi had experienced during the peak of the second wave, stating that all stakeholders came together to solve the crisis.

"Delhi went through a shortage of oxygen but the people of Delhi, the central government, Supreme Court, Delhi high court came together to solve it," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi government had imposed an initial lockdown on April 20, which was last extended on May 16 for one week.

Kejriwal outlined a two-pronged approach to dealing with a third wave of Covid-19, either by vaccinating the 2 crore population of Delhi at the earliest so that a third wave does not materialise, or by ramping up facilities to help the city weather another wave. He emphasised that vaccination remains the government's priority and added that the government is ready to spend as much money as needed for vaccinating its people of Delhi.

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