Aug. last week saw 35% hike in cases over previous week: Govt

New Delhi, Sept. 4: The last week of August saw a 35 per cent increase in coronavirus cases as compared to the previous week, with 30 to 40 per cent of the new cases coming from the same family, according to an analysis done by the Delhi government’s health department.

The health department analysed the cases in August, which saw a spike, and found that the infection was spilling over to rural and middle- class pockets and there are increasing incidences of cases in migrant habitations.

The government’s analysis also found that there is a lack of adherence with coronavirus appropriate behaviour by the public which might be responsible for the spike.

The other reasons it listed for the spike were the festive season, late testing by Covid suspects, crossinfection, return of migrants and unlock measures.

Fresh and active cases have shown an increase in the last several days, with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announcing last month that Covid tests in Delhi will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week as there has been a marginal increase in the number of cases.

In the last week of August amid a spike in cases, Mr Kejriwal had warned people against complacency and said that more and more people should get themselves tested if they observe coronavirus symptoms.

◗ THE GOVERNMENT’S analysis also found that there is a lack of adherence with coronavirus appropriate behaviour by the public which might be responsible for the spike