Delhi lockdown to fight against Covid surge extended by another week: Arvind Kejriwal

Addressing a press briefing, Kejriwal said: "We are extending the lockdown for another week and the impositions will continue till 5 AM next Monday."

"Due to lockdown, which is the last resort, the cases might be a little more controlled. Public opinion is also that lockdown should increase," said Kejriwal as the national capital is probably the worst hit by the second wave of the pandemic.

"There is 36 per cent to 37 per cent positivity rate, which was not there before," the Chief Minister said.

He also said Delhi is facing a shortage of oxygen and despite help from the Centre, several hospitals are running out of stocks to meet the rising demands.

"Delhi right now needs 700 metric tonnes of oxygen. We are facing a shortage of oxygen despite Centre raising the quota of Delhi from 480 to 490 metric tonnes," Kejriwal said adding that only 330 to 335 metric tonnes are reaching the city.

He also mentioned that he had requested all chief ministers to provide oxygen to Delhi if they have spare.

Kejriwal said there is a need to manage the oxygen usage too and therefore, his government has started a portal dedicated to the purpose.

"We have started a portal that will be updated every two hours by oxygen manufacturers, suppliers and hospitals for better management of oxygen supply. The Central and State teams are working together," said Kejriwal.

This comes as India registered a new record in Covid single-day spike and deaths with 3.49 lakh fresh infections and 2,767 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

The fresh infections have taken the country's caseload to 1.69 crores and the total death count to 1,92,311.