Unless fully convinced, schools in Delhi will not be opened: Arvind Kejriwal

Schools in the city will be re-opened only after considering the coronavirus situation, Delhi Chief Arvind Kejriwal said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that the schools in the state will not be opened unless the government is fully convinced that the coronavirus situation has improved in the city. While delivering his Independence Day speech, he said, that the coronavirus condition in the country is quite under control as compared to what it was two months back. He also thanked all the stakeholders, including the central government, 'corona warriors', and different organisations.

He further said that the safety and health of schoolchildren are very important for his government. "I meet people and get messages from them asking not to open schools. I want to assure them that we care about their children as much as they do. Unless fully convinced, we are not going to open the schools," he said.

Kejriwal said Delhi "gave the model" of home isolation and plasma therapy concept to the country in the fight against the pandemic. He said reviving the economy is the biggest challenge but expressed confidence that it will be brought back on track with the cooperation of Delhiites. Efforts are being made for this, he said. The Delhi government will take steps to strengthen the economy of the city and resolve the problems faced by the traders, he said.

"I am happy that despite the revenue of Delhi got drastically reduced, we did good financial management and did not let our subsidy schemes get affected during the crisis. The subsidies that the Delhi government was providing before coronavirus, were being provided even during the time of the corona crisis, and they will continue even in the coming days," he stated. 

The government also provided Rs 1 crore ex gratia to the family of "corona warriors" who died while serving COVID-19 patients, he said, adding that this sent a message that his government cares for them. "The Delhi model is being talked about in the country and has emerged as a study case in the world. It is an outcome of working by taking everyone together. Home isolation was a scientifically thought model to provide a hospital bed to serious patients and treat mild ones at home," he said.

He further said that the home isolation model has been taken up by the government considering the situation in Italy, New York, and London. Talking about the coronavirus situation in the city, he said, "In June, there was an atmosphere of fear and people were leaving the city due to the spread of coronavirus. The situation is quite under control as compared to what it was two months back," he said. 

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