Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held an online press briefing on Saturday, 21 March, where he gave updates on the status of coronavirus cases and measures in Delhi, to curb the menace.

Kejriwal explained that the state government has been working with the Central government in order to facilitate and implement the measures.

Talking about the figures, Kejriwal said that till now, there are 26 confirmed cases in Delhi and one death. While four of the cases are through local transmission, the other 22 are due to infection by foreign carriers.

Ration relief

Making a big announcement, the Delhi CM, admitting that the situation is causing terrible financial stress on the poor, announced that those receiving ration from fair-price shops would get 50 per cent extra for next month, and also doubled the pension for widows, differently-abled and elderly for this month.

“Seventy-two lakh people in Delhi get ration from fair price shops. Ration per person being increased by 50 per cent. It will be provided free,” the chief minister said.

“We are extremely concerned about daily wagers, labourers amid coronavirus crisis; don’t want anyone to go hungry,” he said, adding that food would be provided for homeless in night shelters.

Social gatherings

The government has also reduced the size of social, religious and political gatherings to not more than five persons.

Stressing on the importance of personal responsibility, washing hands, avoiding physical contact and staying indoors, he appealed to senior citizens to avoid going outdoors, even for morning walks, and to stay inside as much as possible.

Exemption on GST

Meanwhile, people coming from abroad who did not like the quarantine facility conditions, were allowed to stay in certain hotels prepared for this purpose, provided that they paid their own bills. To facilitate this, GST would be exempted on these bills.

Pensions Doubled

The pensions given to 2.5 lakh widows, 5 lakh senior citizens and 1 lakh differently abled people are also being doubled by the state government, Kejriwal said, explaining that this would help tide them over in this tough time.

The Delhi CM ended by saying that the government felt that conditions are not extreme enough to merit a lockdown, and such a policy call would only be taken after due consideration.