Delhi lockdown extended by another week, metro to remain shut this time

The lockdown will be stricter this time with even metro services remaining suspended.

The curbs will remain effective till 5 am on May 17.

Making the announcement Kejriwal said Covid cases' numbers have dropped marginally due to this lockdown and the extension is meant to not let people lower their guards.

"The positivity rate has gone down but still we can't afford leniency. We need to extend to lockdown," Kejriwal said.

This would be the fourth week of the lockdown imposed as the Covid numbers in the national capital skyrocketed during the second wave of the virus.

The massive spike in cases led Delhi hospitals to struggle with a shortage of oxygen, beds and medicines while desperate patients lost their loved ones on roads in dearth of proper treatment.

"During the lockdown we utilised the time to enhance our healthcare infrastructure. The main issue in Delhi was oxygen shortage. With Centre's help, the condition is better now," the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Saturday constituted a twelve-member National Task Force (NTF) to streamline the scientific allocation of Liquid Medical Oxygen across the country to deal with the shortage of life-saving gas amid virulent second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.