The Delhi Disaster Management Authority said on Saturday that the Delhi Metro would run at full capacity starting July 26 and that movie halls and theatres in the city will be permitted to reopen at half their previous capacity. From 12 p.m. until 10 p.m., bars will be allowed to reopen with 50% of their seating capacity. Between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., all stores will be allowed to operate on all days of the week, with no discrimination between necessary and non-essential products and services.
“It has been observed that the number of Covid-19 patients and the positivity rate has declined considerably and the overall situation has improved,” the DDMA order said adding that due caution, however, has to be maintained for “consolidating the whole process of Covid-19 management”.
Auditoriums and assembly halls can also be reopened with a 50% capacity. Instra-state buses will be permitted to operate with a 100% seating capacity, with boarding and deboarding taking place exclusively from the back door. Standing passengers will not be permitted on buses or metros, according to the directive.
The DDMA stated that wedding festivities can have a maximum of 100 people in attendance and that the same limit applies to funerals as well.
Visitors will not be permitted to visit religious sites in the national capital.
For the reopening of spas, the DDMA stated that all spa personnel would be required to be vaccinated and will be subjected to RT-PCR testing every two weeks. Staff should wear PPE kits for treatments that last more than 30 minutes.
“It is further directed that the market trade associations, banquet halls, marriage hall associations, gymnasiums and Yoga institute association, other trade associations and resident welfare associations shall also be responsible for ensuring compliance of Covid appropriate behaviors by all shops, malls, markets, market complexes, offices, weekly markers, clinic, banquet halls/marriage halls and residents within their respective areas,” the order stated.
The situation in Delhi with Covid-19 has been slowly improving, with Covid mortality dropping to virtual nil. Delhi reported one Covid death and 58 new illnesses on Friday. There have been reports of congestion at local markets, prompting the authorities to temporarily close such marketplaces.
