Omicron: Delhi Metro to run with 50% capacity; standing passengers will not be allowed

New Delhi: In the backdrop of rising cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant, Delhi Metro on Tuesday has issued an advisory for the commuters. In an announcement, Delhi Metro said that travel will be allowed only up to 50 percent seating capacity inside the Metro trains. Also, no standing passenger will be allowed during the travel. The decision has been taken in view of the latest guidelines issued by the Delhi Government for the containment of COVID-19 in NCT Delhi.

To stop the further spread of COVID cases in the capital, Delhi Government has issued a Yellow alert, under which public transport has been allowed to run at 50 percent seating capacity. Delhi has witnessed a positivity rate of over 0.5 percent for two consecutive days and has crossed 1,500 cases in a week.

The restrictions under the COVID Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) includes shutting all educational institutions, capping wedding and funeral gatherings to 20, reducing seat occupancy in Delhi Metro, buses, restaurants and bars to 50 percent and sitting up the cinema halls, spas, gyms and among others.

In view of the same, entry into Metro stations will be regulated by restricting the number of gates open for entry into stations to ensure compliance with the guidelines. Out of 712 gates, 444 will be kept open as of now, Delhi Metro further informed.

Omicron India update

Omicron seems to be spreading in India faster than it was expected.  Delhi has reported 496 positive cases and one death in the past 24 hours. It has also reported 172 recoveries while active cases are 1,612. Total positive cases in the country are 14,44,179 while total deaths so far are 25,107. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said the Covid cases in the capital have been mild and there has been no increase in consumption of oxygen or use of ventilators despite the rise in numbers.

Mumbai has registered 1377 new Covid-19 cases and one death in the past 24 hours.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)