Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced hiking fines for not using face masks from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 and increasing

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced hiking fines for not using face masks from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 and increasing the number of beds for Covid-19 patients at hospitals.

He also appealed to the people not to celebrate Chhath at ponds and other water bodies in the city.

Arvind Kejriwal

The chief minister said the Delhi government was implementing from November 19 its decision to reserve 80 per cent of ICU beds in private hospitals for Covid-19 patients.

Private hospitals have also been directed to increase the percentage of non-ICU Covid-19 beds from 50 per cent to 60 per cent, he said in a virtual briefing.

Covid-19

Kejriwal said he met Lt Governor Anil Baijal to apprise him of various steps being taken by the government to check Covid-19, and added that the fine for not wearing masks has been raised from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000.

Arrangements are being made for over 1,400 ICU beds, including 663 in Delhi government hospitals and 750 at a Central government facility, the chief minister said.