Delhi records further dip in positivity rate
The national capital recorded 6,430 new Covid-19 cases and 337 fatalities on Saturday as the positivity rate further dipped to 11.32%, even as chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the cases are “slowly and steadily” reducing in Delhi.
This is the second consecutive day when Delhi has recorded less than 10,000 cases in a day.
However, the lesser number of fresh cases recorded on Saturday came from a relatively smaller number of tests -- 56,811 -- conducted on Friday.
Delhi on Friday had recorded 8,506 COVID-19 cases, the lowest since April 10, with medical experts attributing the lockdown as the main factor behind the dip amid the second wave of the pandemic.
Addressing a virtual news briefing, Kejriwal said, “Today, even lesser cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Delhi. In
the past 24 hours, about 6,500 cases have come up. Yesterday, we had 8,500 cases. In the last 24 hours, the infection rate has declined even further to 11 per cent, while it was 12 per cent yesterday.”
“The virus is reducing in Delhi slowly and steadily, and I hope it diminishes completely and does not rise again. However, we are not going to become negligent in anyway,” he said.
A total of 56,811 tests, including 46,774 RT-PCR tests and 10,037 rapid antigen tests, were conducted on Friday, according to the latest health bulletin.
The number of cumulative cases on Saturday stood at 1,387,411. Over 1.2 million patients have recovered from the infection.
The highest single-day spike in Delhi last year -- 8,593 cases -was reported on November 11.
Delhi has been reeling under a brutal second wave of the pandemic that is sweeping the country which has also stretched the city’s health infrastructure to its limits, with a shortage of medical oxygen and emergency medicines claiming hundreds of lives.
The Delhi government on Saturday announced the launch of an oxygen concentrator bank for patients requiring oxygen support in home isolation or those recuperating after discharge from hospital. Each district in Delhi will have a stock of 200 concentrators that will be rushed to the doorsteps of the patients requiring oxygen within two hours, Kejriwal said at the briefing.
Oxygen concentrators are
portable devices that enrich oxygen content in the air breathed by a person.
Those requiring oxygen concentrators can call on the helpline number -- 1031 -- and it will be provided free of cost after it is recommended by the doctors, he said.
“The oxygen bank will have 200 oxygen concentrators in each of the 11 districts for COVID patients under home isolation and for patients who have returned home after recovery from hospital but require oxygen support as recommended by the doctors,” said the chief minister. The Covid-19 patients who are not enrolled under home isolation protocol of the Delhi government may call 1031 and avail of the oxygen concentrator facility, he said. Kejriwal said often oxygen level drops in COVID patients and they can be saved from further deterioration if oxygen is given immediately. “If patients under home isolation require oxygen, our team will ensure the oxygen concentrator reaches them within two hours. A technician will also accompany the team to explain to the family members how to use the device.” Delhi government doctors will stay in touch with all those who are being given oxygen concentrators, he said.
Lauding the healthcare workers, Kejriwal said, “Yesterday, we prepared 500 additional ICU beds, and 500 similar beds were made four days ago. Within 15 days, our doctors, engineers and workers have prepared 1,000 ICU beds. They have set an example for the world. I salute them on behalf of the people of Delhi.”