Guwahati: Schools will remain closed for a week from Monday onwards, while construction activities will not be allowed from November 14 to 17, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday. Government offices will all work from home, he said. Virtual classes at schools will continue, but physical classes will be stopped so that children do not have to step out and breathe in polluted air, Kejriwal said. The chief minister was speaking after a meeting called to discuss emergency measures to deal with the city’s worsening air quality.
Delhi on Saturday recorded zero death due to Covid-19 and 56 fresh cases with a positivity rate of 0.10 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. The slight fall in daily cases count comes a day after the city logged 62 fresh cases, the highest daily count since August 8, and two deaths due to it after a gap of nearly three weeks. The death toll due to the coronavirus infection in Delhi stands at 25,093, while the number of cumulative cases stood at 14,40,388.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Saturday questioned the Delhi government on whether emergency measures like a lockdown for a few days was needed in the national capital to tackle the rising air pollution. A bench led by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said the deteriorating air quality had compelled people to wear masks even at home.
“You see how bad the situation is….even in our houses, we are wearing masks,” the CJI said, according to Bar and Bench. Delhi’s air quality was ‘severe’ on Saturday morning, recording 499 on the Air Quality Index (AQI), according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Posting the matter for November 15 (Monday), the apex court sought the Delhi government’s response on steps taken to control the pollution.
(Inputs From Indian Express)
