Time has come to re-open Delhi, says Kejriwal; shops set to open from Monday

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday me it clear that time has come to re-open Delhi as people will have to be rey to live with coronavirus, and said it is impossible that COVID-19 infection cases will be zero.   

dressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said Delhi government will suggest to Centre that only containment areas in city be declared as red zones and t entire district. At present, all 11 districts in city have been declared as red zones.

"Time has come to re-open Delhi. We will have to be rey to live with coronavirus. We will have to get used to it," he said.

Delhi has been under lockdown since March 23.

Delhi government has also prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to facilitate movement of stranded people including migrant labourers. Thousands of migrant workers are stranded in city, many of whom are currently residing in government-run facilities.

Kejriwal also anunced a number of relief measures that will come into force from Monday, but said lockdown will continue for ar two weeks.

chief minister said coronavirus is going where and it is impossible that cases of coronavirus will be zero.

"Corona(virus) has come. It is impossible that re will be cases of coronavirus because it has t happened across country," he said.

Highlighting verse impact of coronavirus on exchequer, Kejriwal said in April 2019, government earned Rs 3,500 crore while in April this year, it only received Rs 300 crore.

He said Centre has put entire Delhi under red zone due to which markets, malls cant open.

"We have suggested Centre to seal those areas where cases of coronavirus have been reported and rest of areas can be allowed for operation of all activities," he said.

Kejriwal said Delhi government will also take strict action against those who spit in public. He ded that movement of people from 7 pm to 7 am will t be allowed.

He said government and private offices will open from Monday but suspension of travel by flight, metro and bus will continue. Even suspension inter-city bus service will continue.

Delivery of essential goods through e-commerce portals will continue in national capital, he said.

Delhi government offices engd in essential services will function with full strength while offices of n-essential services and private offices can operate with 33 per cent strength.

"Malls, cinemas, salons, market complexes and Delhi Metro will remain shut while shops selling essentials will continue to be open," he said, ding that 50 people will be allowed in marri function.

As n-essential standalone shops are set to open from Monday, trers are elated that y can finally restart ir work, but it will be far from business as usual due to concerns like availability of staff and commuting restrictions during lockdown period.

Shops in containment zones will, however, remain closed.

Many tre bodies are also seeking clarity from local authorities on easing of restrictions as y say re is a "confusion" over what constitutes a neighbourhood shop and a standalone shop.

Confederation of All India Trers (CAIT) said re is confusion about guidelines.

" trers will be in a dilemma," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said, ding re is "lack of clarity over what constitutes a neighbourhood shop and a standalone shop".

He asserted that "clarification should come from right quarters. t only Centre, it is duty of state governments to issue that clarification because most of issues are under domain of state governments. law enforcement authorities also function as per ir directives."

Retailers Association of India (RAI) said that what constitutes market places could be misinterpreted.

Organised retailers such as Future Group and V-Mart Retail said y are also seeking permissions from local authorities.

"Some parts of businesses will reopen. What we see is that re is possibility of opening some standalone stores...We will open wherever we can and we will talk to local authorities to open. We will have to see how it works out.

"In any case individual states will have to come out with clear guidelines. While some states have come out with guidelines but y are same as what Centre has said. I think states are also confused and y are printing same thing that Centre is sending," RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said.

Meanwhile, healthcare workers in national capital received a beautiful surprise as helicopters hovered over city hospitals, showering flower petals to thank "corona warriors".

While workers were "elated" and "overwhelmed" by gesture, y also said it will send out a mess to those who have stigmatised and humiliated m. y also emphasised upon need to provide more PPE kits to frontline staff. More than 200 healthcare personnel have been infected of coronavirus.

total number of coronavirus cases stood at 4,122 on Saturday which saw highest spike in cases in a day. So far, 64 people have died due to coronavirus in national capital.

Nine people including doctors and contacts of positive staffers of NDMC-run hospitals, have tested positive for vel coronavirus, officials said.

At Hindu Rao, a doctor and two nurses h tested positive for virus earlier. total number of staffers who have tested positive at hospital w stands at six.