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

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

Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the Delhi government will suggest to the Centre that only containment areas in the city be declared as red zones and not the entire district. At present, all 11 districts in the city have been declared as red zones.

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

Delhi has been under lockdown since March 23.

The 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 the city, many of whom are currently residing in government-run facilities.

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

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

"Corona(virus) has come. It is impossible that there will be no cases of coronavirus because it has not happened across the country," he said.

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

He said the Centre has put the entire Delhi under red zone due to which markets, malls cannot open.

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

Kejriwal said the Delhi government will also take strict action against those who spit in public. He added that movement of people from 7 pm to 7 am will not be allowed.

He said the government and private offices will open from Monday but the 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 the national capital, he said.

Delhi government offices engaged in essential services will function with full strength while offices of non-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, adding that 50 people will be allowed in the marriage function.

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

Shops in containment zones will, however, remain closed.

Many trade bodies are also seeking clarity from local authorities on the easing of restrictions as they say there is a "confusion" over what constitutes a neighbourhood shop and a standalone shop.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said there is confusion about the guidelines.

"The traders will be in a dilemma," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said, adding there is "lack of clarity over what constitutes a neighbourhood shop and a standalone shop".

He asserted that the "clarification should come from the right quarters. Not only the Centre, it is the duty of the state governments to issue that clarification because most of the issues are under the domain of the state governments. The law enforcement authorities also function as per their 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 they are also seeking permissions from local authorities.

"Some parts of the businesses will reopen. What we see is that there is the possibility of opening some standalone stores...We will open wherever we can and we will talk to the 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 the guidelines but they are the same as what the Centre has said. I think the states are also confused and they are printing the same thing that the Centre is sending," RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said.

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

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

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

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

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