61% of active Delhi cases in red zones, says data
NEW DELHI: Around 61% of active Covid-19 cases in Delhi as on December 22 were in areas demarcated as containment zones, up significantly from 35% in mid-November, when the national capital was at the peak of its third wave of coronavirus disease cases, according to Delhi government data.
Additionally, the Capital had a far greater number of containment zones on December 22, as against mid-November, even though the city has seemingly passed the third wave of infections, and daily new infections are lower now than during than the former period.
As on December 22, Delhi recorded 12,189 total active cases, of which 7,438 (61%) were in the city’s 5,501 containment zones. In comparison, on November 15, the Capital had 43,774 active cases, of which 15,242 (35%) were inside the 4,430 containment zones at the time.
The government attributed the sharp increase in the share of active cases in red zones to its micro-containment policy, which was intensified in November. In fact, till early-December, they also allowed containment zones to be notified with less than three cases identified in close proximity, based on a risk assessment by district surveillance officials.
The Capital had 6,501 containment zones on December 11 — the highest count so far, government data showed.
It further showed that even though the next 11 days saw a drop in the number of active containment zones (from 6,501 to 5,501), it still remains higher than the number on November 15 (4,430).
As new Covid-19 cases in the national capital have continued to decline for around three weeks now, seven out of 11 districts recorded less than 1,000 active cases as on December 22 – compared to only one such district on November 15.
Delhi added a daily average of 1,186 new cases in the seven days ending December 22, down significantly from the 6,697 daily average infections it added in the seven-days ending November 15.
State revenue minister Kailash Gahlot said, “Delhi witnessed the third wave of Covid-19 in November, which was the worst so far. During that phase, the government decided to go for an aggressive strategy of creating micro containment zones.”
Delhi witnessed the third wave of Covid-19 in November, which was the worst so far KAILASH GAHLOT, revenue minister
State
SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the BJP, its allies and the administration in Jammu and Kashmir should accept the verdict of the District Development Council elections and stop indulging in “horse-trading” which will only discredit democracy and the institutions.
He accused the Apni Party, led by former PDP leader Altaf Bukhari, and the union territory administration of using coercive tactics to buy loyalties of newly elected DDC members.
“In case of Shopian district, some of the winners -- from Congress, PDP and National Conference -- are brought to Srinagar and coerced to join the Apni Party,” Omar said.
The former chief minister also played an audio recording of a telephone conversation in which the husband of a winning candidate from Shopian, belonging to the National Conference, is promised the release of his brother within three days if he makes his wife to “join Altaf Bukhari’s party”. The DDC member, Yasmeena Jan, had joined the Apni Party on Friday.
Omar said the BJP, the Apni Party and the administration should accept the verdict of the people in favour of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.
“PAGD won most of the seats, Why cannot the BJP, the Apni Party, the Centre and the administration accept it. The prime minister in a health-related function today spoke about DDC elections and democracy.
“Every BJP leader has been trumpeting that DDC elections were a victory of democracy... We want to tell them ‘stop playing with democracy’,” he added.