No more COVID-19 restrictions in Delhi, schools to go offline from April 1: CM Arvind Kejriwal

File image of AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal (Source: PTI)

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, on February 25, announced that the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has withdrawn all restrictions as the situation has improved in the national capital.

The CM further said that DDMA has also reduced the fine for not wearing a mask from Rs 1,000 to Rs 500.

All schools can take classes on campus from April 1, he said.

The announcements come after the DDMA meeting which was held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at 12.30 pm.

DDMA withdraws all restrictions as situation improves n people facing hardships due to loss of jobs

Schools to function fully offline from 1 Apr

COVID-19 Vaccine

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How does a vaccine work?

A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine.

How many types of vaccines are there?

There are broadly four types of vaccine — one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine.

What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind?

Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time.

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Fines for not wearing masks reduced to Rs 500

All shud continue following Covid Appropriate Behaviour. Govt will keep strict watch

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 25, 2022

The DDMA in its meeting earlier this month, allowed several relaxations, including the opening of schools and colleges and extended imposition of night curfew from 11 pm instead of 10 pm.

Also Read: Delhi Metro services to resume as per regular timetable on weekends

With the fresh COVID-19 cases and positivity rate declining sharply, demands have been raised from several quarters, including the traders and political parties, for lifting the remaining curbs.

Meanwhile, the national capital on Thursday reported 556 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.10 per cent and six deaths due to the infection, according to data shared by the health department.

Also Read: Delhi govt orders resumption of driving license skill & learning license tests

The number of tests conducted a day ago stood at 50,591. While 618 patients were discharged in a day, the bulletin said. Delhi's case tally has now increased to 18,58,154 and the death toll is at 26,115.

The city on Wednesday reported 583 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.05 percent and three deaths. On Tuesday, the national capital had reported 498 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 0.96 percent and one death.