In a bid to step up vaccinations against Covid-19, the Delhi government  inaugurated its first drive-through vaccination centre at Chhatrasal Stadium on May 29.

The facility is open for all those who are above 45, and is free.

There are three sites at the stadium to attend to people coming in cars, two-wheelers or even those on foot. Each site has a verification desk, registration desk and vaccination desk. There are facilities to make people wait for 30 minutes after vaccination in order to take care of any side effects of the jab. 

Also read: Delhi opens special Covid-19 vaccination centres for the specially-abled

Earlier in the week, the city’s first drive-through Covid-19 vaccination centre, set up by Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital in Vegas Mall in Dwarka’s Sector 14 for people aged between 18 and 45.

Speaking after inaugurating the above-45 drive-in facility, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal explained the government's plan to lift the lockdown:  “We announced that two activities – construction activities and factories can be opened up because the poor such as migrant labourers have faced the most difficulty during the lockdown. I hope that as and when the cases keep on decreasing in the upcoming weeks, we will continue to unlock further. We want the economic activities to come back on track so that the economy can be revived.”

Confronted by the concerns expressed by traders, he said he understood their troubles and anxiety. "I want to tell them that it was with great difficulty that we were able to control the situation by imposing a lockdown. I can understand their difficulty but they should be patient and should not rush. We also want their markets and shops to open up and as and when the situation comes under control, we will open up everything.”

The Delhi government has extended the Covid-19 lockdown till June 7, although it lifted some restrictions for workers in the manufacturing and construction businesses.

However, the manufacturing and construction companies that resume work will have to strictly follow precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus and stagger shifts. Workers will also be randomly tested for Covid-19 by the authorities.

Essential activities and services will continue to be exempt from the lockdown. E-passes issued to people for movement connected with providing essential goods and services will continue to be valid.

Kejriwal has said Delhi will start unlocking slowly from Monday as only 1,100 fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported on Friday with the positivity rate coming down to 1.5 per cent. On Saturday the count of new coronavirus cases fell further to 956. But the government still considers the situation as “still precarious.”

Police check-points on roads to stay

The Delhi government has also instructed the district magistrates to ensure random Covid testing in sufficient numbers at manufacturing units and construction sites on a regular basis. These units are to be regularly inspected too to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour is being followed.

Also read: Delhi to get its first drive-in vaccination centre on May 26

`Police authorities have been asked to ensure there is no unnecessary movement of people on roads. This will be done by putting adequate number of checking points.

Some restrictions eased

The previously prohibited activities that will now be opened up outside the containment zones in the city from May 31 onwards are the following:

• Operations of manufacturing/production units within closed premises in approved industrial areas.
• Construction activities within work sites.

Conditions to be met

• Only asymptomatic workers and employees to be allowed at the workplace.
• Staggering of work/business hours to be followed at the workplace in order to ensure proper social distancing.
• Covid-appropriate behaviour to be strictly followed by all workers.
• Provision of thermal screening, hand wash and sanitizer preferably with touch-free mechanism to be made at all entry and exit points.
• Frequent sanitization of the entire work place and common facilities to be ensured.
• A manufacturing unit or construction site that violates these rules is liable to be closed. Legal action may also be taken.

Workers and employees will be allowed to move only if they possess an e-pass (soft or hard copy) which can be obtained by the employers by submitting online applications with details of the workers on the website www.delhi.gov.in.