Delhi relaxes restrictions as cases dip

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21

Even as the national daily Covid case count surged to 3,47,254 on Friday, nearing the peak of the second wave, and India wide active cases passed the 20 lakh mark, New Delhi saw a dip in cases with the government relaxing some curbs.

Nationally, active cases at 20,18, 825 were the highest in 235 days.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), meanwhile, allowed private offices to function with 50 per cent staff as cases dipped. The DDMA, however, maintained that weekend curfew and other restrictions, including odd-even rule for opening shops in city markets, will continue.

The state government had recommended lifting of weekend curfew and ending the odd-even scheme for opening shops noting slight ease in the Covid situation.

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal only approved the proposal of allowing private offices to work with 50 per cent staff (previous order had said all staffers barring exempted private workplaces would work from home).

Noting that Covid-19 cases and positivity rate were witnessing a decline, the DDMA said, "All private offices shall be allowed to function with up to 50 per cent of attendance with immediate effect in the NCT of Delhi (outside of containment zones)."

The latest Omicron induced third wave of Covid appears to have peaked in Delhi with active cases reaching a high of 94,160 on January 13 and declining since January 15. Daily new cases have also been stable since the last few days along with hospitalisations.

Nationally, however, daily cases continued to rise, nearing the May 7, 2021, peak of the second wave which was 4.40 lakh cases.

3,47,254 fresh cases

TOTAL DEATHS 4,88,396

ACTIVE CASES 20,18,825

703 deaths in 24 hours

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