Weekend curfews will return in Delhi while government staff in non-essential services and half of private sector employees have been asked to work from home.

The curbs have been imposed in the wake of the sharp surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari tested positive on Tuesday.

Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal announced the changes after chairing a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.

Baijal said in a statement: “After detailed discussions with experts, it was decided to impose weekend curfew in Delhi with emphasis on work from home…. It was also decided to work out on the basis of empirical data all possible models of scenarios that could emerge in the days to come for further review of strategy.”

Although Delhi has a test positivity rate of 8.37 per cent — which would otherwise necessitate a red alert or total lockdown — the relatively lower number of patients needing hospitalisation has led the government to keep the alert at the lowest level, “yellow”.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said in a webcast that besides a curfew on weekends, “leave your home only in case of emergency or in need of essential services”.

“Except for essential services, all government officials will work from home. Private offices will work at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity,” he added.

Curbs on occupancy in Metro trains and buses have been lifted to prevent crowding and clashes between commuters and bus conductors.

The government fears that bus stops and Metro stations could become superspreaders after the seating capacity had been halved and long queues were seen at these places.

“There will be a curfew on Saturdays and Sundays…. The weekend curfew will begin from Friday evening and continue till Monday morning,” Sisodia said.

Kejriwal has drawn flak for participating in a rally in Punjab’s Patiala last week without a mask. BJP leaders have led large road blockades in the capital against the opening of liquor shops last week and politicians of all major parties in the capital are campaigning in poll-bound states.

Sisodia said: “At present Delhi has about 11,000 (active) cases. Of these, only 350 people are hospitalised and only 124 patients are needing oxygen beds. There are seven people on ventilator support as of now.”

Nearly 5,500 fresh cases of Covid were reported in Delhi on Tuesday.