Delhi govt to bear cost of raising, educating children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19
New Delhi, May 14 (FN Bureau) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the Delhi government will bear the cost of raising and educating children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19. Addressing a digital press conference here, he also said that the Delhi government will also extend financial help to families and senior citizens who have lost their earning members due to COVID-19. Mr Kejriwal said in the past 24 hours, Delhi has recorded around 8,500 fresh COVID-19 cases, as against 28,000+ cases on April 20 and that the positivity rate down to 12 per cent as against 36 per cent on April 22.
He said, ‘In these times of despair, I wish to bring some good news to everyone. In the past 24 hours, less than 10,000 cases of Coronavirus have come up in Delhi.’ ‘Today 8,500 cases have emerged. It is the first time in many days that the number of cases has been less than 10,000,’ Mr Kejriwal said. In the past 10 days, the number of patients in hospitals of Delhi has reduced by more than 3,000 patients, this means that 3,000 beds have become empty, however, ICU beds are still full, he added. Mr Kejriwal also said around 1200 new ICU beds have been prepared and will be ready in 1-2 days, which will bring great relief to the people of Delhi.
The Delhi Chief Minister added, ‘The cases that are declining in Delhi have been because of the contribution of every person of Delhi. We imposed a very strict lockdown in Delhi, but the people of Delhi offered their complete support in the same. Everyone adhered to the lockdown completely. ‘Today everyone is talking about how the people of Delhi managed to reduce the number of Coronavirus cases. This has been possible only because of the disciplined behavior of the people of Delhi. But the battle is not won yet.
The battle is yet to finish. Even now 8,500 cases have come up. This has to be reduced to 0. We have to end Coronavirus entirely.’ He said, ‘Secondly, if we do not take precautions, then the cases will increase again. There is no guarantee that they will remain low. Delhi may face problems again. Therefore by no means, we can let loose. The lockdown has to be adhered to strictly and should employ all the ways to ensure protection from the Coronavirus. The Delhi Government is also not leaving any scope in its arrangements. We are making more Oxygen beds, buying thousands of oxygen cylinders, installing new ICU beds, so that in case the Coronavirus cases increase, we are fully prepared in the arrangements we make.’