Coronavirus: Delhi markets to remain open as CM Arvind Kejriwal asks associations to cooperate

Markets in Delhi will remain open as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has sought the cooperation of market associations to curb the spread of Covid–19.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday met with the representatives of the market associations and assured them that the government was not in favour of another lockdown to counter the latest spike in Covid-19 cases in the capital. The chief minister, however, sought their cooperation and said that the association can play a vital role in promoting Covid-appropriate behavior.
“I am meeting representatives of market associations today to seek their cooperation to ensure appropriate Covid behaviour at market places. Market associations can play very important role,” CM Kejriwal tweeted in the morning. A few hours later, he shared that the representatives of the market associations have assured him cooperation.
“I met with the representatives of market associations. I removed their anxieties – the government does not wish to shut any market. They assured anyone not wearing a mask in the market will be provided free by the market association. All shops will also be asked to keep spare masks and hand sanitisers,” CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
This comes almost a week after the Aam Adami Party chief had said that the Delhi government will send a proposal to the Centre asking to shut down the markets violating Covid rules.
Hit by a third wave of Covid-19, the Delhi government has been implementing a slew of measures to bring the situation under control. On Thursday, the city government increased the fine for not wearing a mask in public places from Rs 500 to Rs 2000. The government has also requested people not to celebrate Chhath Puja at public places.
The total number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi has reached 5,10,630 after reporting 7,546 fresh cases on Thursday while the total number of recoveries is now 4,59,368.