Delhi will shut down this weekend to “break the chain of transmission” as it tackles a steep rise in Covid cases, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced today. Essential activities including weddings or travel from airports and train stations will be allowed with curfew passes.

Mr Kejriwal announced the curbs after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and top officials earlier today. Delhi’s rate of people testing positive has climbed to nearly 16 per cent, up from 12.4 percent on Monday.

Mr Kejriwal had earlier said a lockdown is not the best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus and that it would be enforced only if the “hospital system collapses” in Delhi.