[COVID-19] Will not impose night curfew: AAP govt tells Delhi High Court

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government told the Delhi High Court that it has decided not to impose night curfew as a measure against COVID-19 in the national capital (Rakesh Malhotra vs GNCTD)..In an affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, the Arvind Kejirwal led government stated that status-quo with regard to permitted/restricted activities will be maintained till December 31,2020. ."The Delhi Government has taken a considered view, after assessing the situation in Delhi, not to impose night curfew in Delhi or parts of Delhi as of now. Delhi Government has issued an order dated 28.11.2020, whereby status-quo has been maintained with regard to permitted/restricted activities in Delhi till 31.12.2020 or till further orders whichever is earlier. Therefore, no new activity has been permitted/allowed till December 31, 2020," the affidavit said. .In view of the alarming situation of COVID-19, a Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad had directed Delhi government last month to take a call on the requirement of imposing night curfew without losing further time. .The counsel for Delhi government had then informed the Court that the issue of imposition of night curfew was under consideration..The Court was dealing with advocate Rakesh Malhotra's petition concerning the status of COVID-19 in the city..In its affidavit, Delhi government also informed that it was holding frequent meetings with Market Welfare Associations and Resident Welfare Associations to spread awareness about maintaining COVID appropriate behavior. .It is added said that so far, Delhi government and Delhi Police have collected Rs 17,93,82,917 and Rs 27,68,35,900, respectively, from challans for violation of COVID-19 norms and the same is lying in the government treasury. .The affidavit was taken on record by the court today..Taking stock of the number of tests being conducted by the Delhi government through RAT and RT-PCR, as well as the positivity rate of above 5%, the court remarked,."To keep an unabated check on the spread of COVID-19 infection, the level of testing cannot be reduced. Efforts must be made to trace the contacts of persons who have tested positive and ensure that persons who are symptomatic and in home quarantine, adhere to the Guidelines prescribed by the ICMR.. In other words, the mantra remains aggressive testing and equally aggressive contact tracing.".To this end, the court has directed the Delhi government to ensure that hospital and labs do not take more than 24 hours to give the results of COIVD-19 tests and that the same is communicated to the patients by sending an SMS on their mobile phones within 24 hours..As per the order, Delho government shall file a fresh status report, stating the measures to ensure proper follow-up on contact tracing and that persons who are home quarantined, do not violate the isolation regime. .Read the Order: