Delhi Govt Caps Number of Guests at Weddings, Other Events in View of Rising COVID-19 Cases

Not more than 200 guests will be allowed for weddings or public gatherings in open-air venues.

New Delhi: Keeping in view the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, the Delhi government on Saturday put a cap of 200 guests in marriage and other events at open-air venues and of 100 people for closed spaces in the city. In an order, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said not more than 50 people will be allowed at funerals in the national capital. Dev, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority’s (DDMA) state executive committee, said the order will be in force till April 30. He, however, said status quo will be maintained regarding current permissible and prohibited activities in the city.

In the order, Dev said a cap on the number of people in marriage, banquet hall, other gatherings and congregations, and in funeral needs to be imposed. “In closed spaces, a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity will be allowed, with a ceiling of 100 people, and in open spaces numbers will be allowed keeping the size of the ground/ space in view, with a ceiling of 200 people subject to strict observance of wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitiser,” the order stated.

Delhi reported 1,558 coronavirus cases for the third day on a row on Saturday, while 10 more people, the highest in around two-and-a-half months, succumbed to the disease. This is the highest number of cases since December 15 last year when 1,617 people tested positive for the virus, according to official data.

The city had recorded 1,534 cases on Friday, 1,515 on Thursday, 1,254 on Wednesday and 1,101 cases on Tuesday — the first time since December 24 that the number of cases crossed the 1,000-mark.

(With inputs from agencies)