The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has enforced a plan in the national capital ahead of a possible third wave of the Covid-19. The move is aimed at dealing with any surge in Covid infections in the coming days.
The action plan includes four colour-coded alert levels of severity. As per the action plan, a yellow alert implies level 1 of severity and will come into effect if Delhi reports 1,500 fresh cases in a week or witnesses a positivity rate of over 0.5% for two consecutive days or 500 oxygen beds are occupied within a week.
As per the yellow alert guidelines, shops will be operational from 10 am to 8 pm on an odd-even basis. Metro services will be allowed to run at 50% capacity for passengers. Buses will also function at 50% passenger (who have permission to travel) capacity. With 50% guest capacity, restaurants and bars will get the nod to operate from 8 am to 10 pm and 12 pm to 10 pm, respectively. In addition, a night curfew will also come into effect from 10 pm to 5 am.
Delhi will also issue an amber alert if the city records a positivity rate of more than 1% for two consecutive days or registers 3,500 new cases over a week or 700 oxygen beds are occupied in a week. Under level 2 of severity alert, other than the night curfew, a weekend curfew will also be imposed. Shops will be allowed to operate from 10 am to 6 pm on an odd-even basis. Metro authorities will be permitted to function with 33% of capacity. Buses will be operational with 50% passenger capacity. Restaurants and bars will be shut. However, hotels will be allowed to function.
The orange alert, level 3 of severity, will come into force when the city starts recording 9,000 new cases in a week or clocks a positivity rate of over 2% and 1,000 oxygen beds get occupied within a week. The orange alert will prompt all shops other than standalone shops to remain shut as well as metro services. However, buses will ply with 50% of passengers having travel permits.
Under this alert, construction activities will not be affected if labourers stay at the site. Night, as well as weekend curfew, will remain in place.
In case Delhi records a positivity rate of 5% for two consecutive days or sees 16,000 cases over a week or 3,000 oxygen beds get occupied within a week, level 4 of severity or a red alert will be declared. According to the alert, all restrictions will remain the same as the orange alert, and Delhi will be placed under complete lockdown.
Under all levels of severity, educational institutions, including schools and colleges, will remain shut. Besides, cinema halls, banquet halls, auditoriums, salons, spas, gymnasiums and yoga centres, and amusement parks will be closed. Religious places will be opened but there will be restrictions in place for visitors.
With the action plan, Delhi becomes the first city to enforce such precautions to tackle another wave of the Covid-19.
