The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) at its meeting on Thursday decided to lift the ongoing weekend curfew and withdraw the odd-even rule for the opening of shops in the national capital. However, the night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am will continue to remain in force.

The meeting, chaired by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal, was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

According to sources, it was also decided that bars and restaurants would function with their 50 percent seating capacity. The number of guests at marriage functions has been capped at 200.

However, these decisions will come into effect only after a DDMA order is issued in this regard. The order is likely to be issued either this evening or tomorrow in the morning.

The sources said schools will continue to remain closed. The question of opening the schools will be discussed in the next meeting of the DDMA whenever it is held.

There has been a lot of pressure from parents of school-children and others to allow the opening of schools in view of the drastic fall in the number of Covid-19 positive cases with the infection positivity rate also coming down. Traders’ associations have also been demanding the removal of curbs on business activity.

Pointing out that shutting down of schools was affecting the academic the career of students and affecting their mental health considerably, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said the AAP the government would recommend reopening of schools at this stage.

The single-day number of virus cases on Wednesday increased to 7,498 from 6,028 on Tuesday, but the positivity rate stood at 10.59 percent against 10.55 percent the day before.

Earlier, the Delhi government had sent a proposal to the L-G seeking removal of most of the curbs like the weekend curfew, doing away with the odd-even formula for the opening of shops, and allowing private offices to function at 50 percent of their staff capacity. The L-G had, however, rejected the proposal, but accepted the recommendation with regard to the functioning of private offices.