Delhi govt rejigs rules as Covid cases surge

Highest single-day spike of 1,513 cases, total reaches 23,645

The national capital on Wednesday reported record 1,513 Covid-19, highest single-day spike, in last 24 hours. Now total Covid-19 cases rise to 23,645 and death toll at 606. As cases continued to rise, a five-member committee has been constituted by the Delhi government for healthcare infrastructure augmentation and strengthen overall preparedness of hospitals to battle Covid-19.

The Delhi government has also issued new guidelines for Covid-19 testing. Meanwhile, 11 teachers of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation have tested positive in its Rohini zone.

According to Delhi health department data, of total cases 13,497 are active and 9,542 patients had recovered which includes 299 in last 24 hours. Nine deaths have been reported during the period, however, cumulative death death toll has rise to 606. As the North Corporation, seven teachers sent for quarantine after one principal retiring on last day of May tested positive.

The order to set up the panel was issued on Tuesday, the day Delhi recorded its highest single-day spike of 1,298 coronavirus cases. The members include Dr Mahesh Verma, Vice-Chancellor of IP University; Dr Sunil Kumar, Medical Director of GTB Hospital; Dr Arun Gupta, president of Delhi Medical Council; Dr R K Gupta, former president of Delhi Medical Association; and Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director, Max Hospital, the order said.

“The committee will guide the Delhi government on healthcare infrastructure augmentation and strengthen overall preparedness of hospitals to battle COVID-19,” it said.

It will also guide the government on any other area where strengthening of infrastructure is required to better manage the pandemic in Delhi. The panel has been directed to submit its report by June 6. A record singleday spike of 1,298 fresh cases took the Covid-19 tally in Delhi to over 22,000 on Tuesday and the death toll due to the disease mounted to 556, authorities said.

In its order dated June 2, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) said that strategy for Covid-19 testing includes all symptomatic individuals with history of international travel in the last 14 days; all symptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases; all symptomatic healthcare workers/frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation of Covid19; all patients of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).

The order also included — direct and high-risk contacts (diabetic, hypertension, cancer patient and senior citizen) of a confirmed case to be tested once between day 5 and day 10 of coming into contact with a confirmed case; all symptomatic ILI within hotspots/containment zones; all hospitalized patients who develop ILI symptoms; all symptomatic ILI among returnees and migrants within seven days of illness.

“No emergency procedure (including deliveries) should be delayed for lack of test. However, samples can be sent for testing if indicated as above (1-8) simulatenously,” it said. “All testing in the above categories is recommended by real time RT-PCR test only, the order added.

The total number of containment zones in Delhi now stands at 158. Out of the total 216 containment zones, 58 have been decontained.

The complete lockdown has helped the Delhi government in strengthening the city’s health infrastructure to effectively battle Covid-19, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said. Addressing the “Cities Against Covid-19 — Global Summit 2020” via video conference, Mr Sisodia said the government has adequate medical facilities to deal with coronavirus cases.

AS CASES continued to rise, a five-member committee has been constituted by the Delhi government for healthcare infrastructure augmentation and strengthen overall preparedness of hospitals to battle Covid-19