Delhi CM extends lockdown by one week amid rising COVID-19 cases & acute oxygen shortage

As Delhi continues to battle rising COVID-19 cases and acute oxygen supply shortage, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal extended the 6-day lockdown by another week.  Earlier in the day, twelve patients including a doctor in Delhi's Batra Hospital died due to shortage of oxygen supply.  Delhi - the worst-affected city has 99,361 active cases, 10,33,825 recovered cases and 16,147 fatalities. 

Delhi lockdown extended by 1 week

Delhi lockdown

On April 20, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced a 6-day lockdown in the national capital amid rising COVID-19 cases. As per the state guidelines, people's movement has been restricted with an exception of those going for COVID testing, vaccination, people travelling to and from public bus stations, trains and airports and those classified as essential services. Marriages with a cap of 50 people and funerals with 20 people has been allowed while all social/ political / entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ festival gatherings have been banned. Additionally, all private offices, cine-plex, theatres, Amusement Parks/ Arcades/ Video Game Parlours, water parks, gyms, auditoriums, clubs, swimming pools, sports complexes, shooting for films, beaches, gardens, open spaces, saloons, beauty parlours, spas, religious places, malls, shopping centers, schools, colleges, pvt coaching classes are shut. Stadia have been allowed to remain open for National/international sporting events without spectators.

India's oxygen shortage

Currently, India is grappling with acute oxygen supply with Delhi being hit the worst - several hospitals have moved the High Court seeking oxygen supply. While the Centre and Delhi govt have blamed each other for the ongoing oxygen crisis in the national capital, Railways has started 'Oxygen Express'  to transport liquid oxygen to the states via green corridors. These trains have already begun to arrive at UP, Maharashtra, Andhra from Odisha, Jharkhand and others. Delhi, which has increased its demand to 900 MT oxygen per day has been allotted only 480 MT by Centre. Delhi has demanded the Centre's help in procuring more oxygen, accusing UP and Haryana of obstructing its supply and expressing inability to procure tankers. The Delhi HC has warned the Centre with contempt proceedings if oxygen quota of Delhi (490 MT) is not met with, tasking  Centre wit arranging tankers for Delhi. Except for nine sectors, the supply of oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers has been prohibited from April 22 as a temporary measure.