India’s capital Delhi has announced a lockdown after a record spike in cases overwhelmed the city’s healthcare system.
Government offices and essential services, such as hospitals, pharmacies and grocers, will be open during the lockdown which starts Today.
The city had imposed a weekend curfew but in reports, it has recorded its highest single-day spike so far on Sunday, with 24, 462 cases.
India has been reeling from a deadly second wave since the start of April. The country has been reporting more than 200,000 cases daily since Thursday, 15th April.
Deaths have also seen a recent spike with 1,620 confirmed deaths only on Sunday.
“I have always been against lockdowns, but this one will help us amplify the number of hospital beds in Delhi,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a press conference on Monday.
He also appealed to the city’s migrant workers not to leave – last year’s national lockdown saw millions of them heading back to their villages after they found themselves unemployed and running out of money.
“This was a difficult decision to take but we had no other option left,” Mr Kejriwal said. “I know when lockdowns are announced, daily-wage workers suffer and lose their jobs. But I appeal to them to not leave Delhi, it’s a short lockdown and we will take care of you.
