Delhi lifts all Covid-19 curbs as cases decline, physical classes to resume from April 1

All restrictions, including night curfew, imposed during the third wave of Covid-19 will be lifted from the national capital from Monday following a substantial improvement in the pandemic situation.

Schools will go to full physical mode from April one while restaurants and bars will be allowed to function without any capacity constraints from now on as against the existing 50 per cent seating capacity limit. The fine for not wearing masks has also been reduced to Rs 500 from Rs 2,000.

These decisions were taken at a meeting of the DDMA chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal in which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Ministers Satyendar Jain and Kailash Gehlot, NITI Ayog Member Dr VK Paul, ICMR head Prof Balram Bhargava and AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and other senior government officials.

Baijal tweeted, “after detailed discussions with experts, in view of the decline in Covid-19 positive cases and hospitalisation, it was decided to remove all Covid-19 related restrictions in Delhi from February 28 while adhering to the guidelines issued by the Government of India and ensuring observance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour including, wearing of masks & maintaining social distancing.”

He said special emphasis was laid on ensuring systematic surveillance and greater outreach to achieve 100 per cent vaccination coverage of the targeted population. All agencies should continue to remain vigilant without lowering the guard, he added.

"The DDMA withdraws all restrictions as the situation improves and people face hardships due to loss of jobs. Schools to function fully offline from April 1…All should continue following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. Government will keep a strict watch," Kejriwal tweeted.

Officials said schools will do away with hybrid mode -- offline and online -- of education and from April, all students will have to reach schools.

There have been demands from traders and political parties among others for lifting the remaining restrictions citing the decrease in Covid-19 cases.

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