NEW DELHI, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Amid the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in India's capital, the Delhi government is considering to implement strict measures to curb the rising graph, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.
He said he had written to the federal government regarding implementing strict restrictions, including sealing market areas, in the capital city once again till the situation normalizes.
The Indian capital overtook the worst-affected Maharashtra state in terms of single day spike of COVID-19 cases. As many as 3,797 new cases were reported in Delhi, taking the total count of cases to 489,202. While Maharashtra recorded 2,535 new cases.
With 99 deaths being reported since Monday, the death toll in Delhi reached 7,713 on Tuesday.
The Delhi government has already rolled back its decision to allow the gathering of 200 people in wedding ceremonies, and restricted it to 50 now.
The decision has been taken in the wake of Delhi's increasing spike in COVID-19 cases, said a Delhi government source.
"When the Corona (virus) situation improved in Delhi a few weeks ago, the number of people attending a wedding was increased to 200, according to the Centre's guidelines. Now it's being withdrawn and only 50 people will be allowed. The decision has been sent for Lieutenant Governor's approval," Kejriwal told media on Tuesday.
He also said that his government will send a proposal to seal markets if there is a massive violation of COVID-19 safety norms.
"Since cases are rising in Delhi, we are sending a general proposal to central government, that if required, Delhi government can implement shutting down those markets for few days, where norms are not being followed and they are becoming a local COVID-19 hotspot," Kejriwal added further.
According to him, there were sufficient beds in private and government hospitals, "but there is a crisis of ICU (intensive care unit) beds".
"The central government is helping us with ICU beds to deal with the crisis," he added.
Only two days ago the central government had decided to arrange as many as 750 more ICU beds for Delhi so as to accommodate the rising COVID-19 cases. Enditem
