Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, 18 May, announced revised guidelines for the fourth phase of the COVID-19 lockdown in the national capital, and allowed private and public transport in Delhi to resume with limitations on the number of passengers. The Delhi Metro, however, will remain shut.
Kejriwal also announced opening of private and public sector offices but urged companies to allow employees to work from home as much as possible.
In line with the Centre’s guidelines, stepping out of homes from 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential services, will be prohibited.
Here are the new revised guidelines and relaxations and a list of what still remains shut, as announced by Kejriwal:
Public and Private Transport
- E-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws to ply with not more than 1 passenger
- Taxis and cabs to ply with not more than 2 passengers
- Maxi cabs to ply with not more than 5 passengers
- Drivers to be responsible to disinfect the passenger seats after every journey
- Aggregators to be not allowed carpooling or car sharing
- Buses to start plying with not more than 20 passengers each. Every passenger will be screened before boarding the bus. Delhi Transport Department to ensure enforcing of social distancing norms at bus stops and inside the buses
- Private cars to not ply with more than 2 passengers
- Two-wheelers to not have pillion riders
- Goods and cargo trucks allowed to cross borders of the state
Offices, Markets, Shops, Industries
- Public and private sector offices allowed to be open with full strength
- Markets and market complexes to open on alternate days on 'odd-even' basis
- Shops selling essential items to be allowed to open every day
- Standalone shops and shops in residential complexes allowed to open
- Shopkeepers to be responsible for enforcing social distancing norms
- All industries to open but will function according to timings prescribed by the state
- Construction activities to resume, only workers from Delhi allowed to work at the sites. Getting workers from across the border not allowed
Sports Activities, Restaurants
- Restaurants to be opened only for home deliveries. Customers won't be allowed to sit and eat
- Sports complexes and stadiums to open but no spectators will be allowed to be present for any matches
Weddings, Gatherings
- Weddings allowed with not more than 50 guests and funerals with not more than 20 guests
- Social, political, religious, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious gatherings prohibited
What Remains Shut
- Delhi Metro
- Educational institutes
- Hotels
- Cinema Halls
- Shopping Malls
- Gyms
- Swimming pools
- Entertainment Parks
- Theatres
- Bars
- Auditoriums
- Assembly Halls
- Places of worship
- Barber Shops
- Spas and Salons
- People above the age of 60 and below the age of 10, diabetic and heart patients not allowed to be outdoors
- No activities other than essential services in containment zones
RWAs shall not prevent any person from performing their services and duties which has been permitted under these guidelines.
However, the government also said that there shall also be intensive contract tracing, house-to-house surveillance in the containment areas.
The announcement comes a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday, extended the coronavirus-induced lockdown till 31 May, and issued new guidelines.
Kejriwal on Sunday had hailed the Centre's guidelines for lockdown 4.0 that commenced today.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)