No More Weekend Curfews And Odd-Even For Shops As Delhi Lifts COVID Restrictions

With the peak of the third wave of COVID-19 seemingly passed, Delhi is doing away with the restrictions that were in place.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday decided to lift the weekend curfew and odd-even system of opening.

Non-essential shops in the city besides permitting restaurants and bars to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity, in view of improving COVID-19 situation.

BCCL

The decision was made at a meeting headed by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

The government offices have also been allowed to reopen with 50 per cent staff.

Marriage guests increased

Another decision taken at the meeting was to allow marriage ceremonies with maximum 200 guests in open areas and up to 50 per cent capacity at indoor venues. So far, only 20 people were allowed to attend these events at home.

BCCL

Night curfew to remain

The night curfew imposed on weekdays from 10 pm to 5 am will continue.

The meeting also decided for strict enforcement and enhancement of COVID appropriate behaviour and other guidelines to check the rise in cases.

Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the time being and the resumption of offline classes will be taken in the next meeting.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had said that the Delhi government will recommend the reopening of schools during the DDMA meeting. He had said that school closures due to COVID did not only affect studies but also the mental health of school children.

AFP

Earlier, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said that the COVID situation in the national capital is in control.

Delhi's positivity rate going down slowly

He also said that Delhi is likely to report less than 5,000 cases on Thursday and the positivity rate will also come down from the existing 10%.

Delhi had reported 7,498 fresh coronavirus cases on Wednesday and 6,028 cases on Tuesday. The positivity rate was at 10.59 per cent on Wednesday. Active cases in Delhi stands at 38,315, according to Wednesday's update.

Oxygen beds still available in hospitals

A recent comparative study of all admitted COVID-19 patients in Max Healthcare hospitals suggests that during the ongoing third wave, occupancy of ICU beds and oxygen requirement is not higher compared to the prior two waves of the coronavirus infection.

This comparative study from all admitted patients across Max Healthcare hospitals has been conducted to compare the rate of admission, ICU requirement, mortality among COVID-19 patients from the first wave and second wave vs the third wave.

BCCL

The key finding notes that the percentage occupancy of ICU beds, however, is not higher compared to the first two waves.

"During second wave last year when Delhi was recording 28,000 COVID-19 positive cases per day, hospitals across the city were full and no ICU beds were available. In comparison to that, in the current wave when the national capital recorded its highest around 28,000 positive cases in a single day, the hospital COVID occupancy across our network is less. There is no crisis inside our hospitals," as per the statement.

According to the study, oxygen requirement was at a nominal rate of 23.4 per cent during the current wave as compared to the first wave and second wave where it was 63 per cent and 74 per cent respectively.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.