The positive rate in Delhi shoots from 0.5 percent to 2.70 percent in a week, even though doctors on Tuesday claimed it was “not a panic scenario” because the daily case count was still low.
New Delhi:
According to data published by the municipal health department on Wednesday, Delhi recorded 299 new COVID-19 cases and zero deaths, with a positive rate of 2.49 percent.
Even while physicians on Tuesday claimed it was “not a panic scenario” because the daily case count was still low, the COVID positivity rate in Delhi had grown from 0.5 percent to 2.70 percent in a week, and doctors warned against letting their guard down.
According to the most recent statistics supplied by the health department, 299 new cases were recorded on Wednesday, up from 137 instances on Monday. Further, no health alert was issued.
On Monday, the percentage of optimism reached 2.70 percent, the highest level in two months. On February 5, the test positive rate was 2.87 percent. With an increase in daily cases and a significant increase in the positivity rate in recent days, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday that the city government was keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 situation and that there was no need to be concerned until a new variant of concern was discovered.
According to the most recent data, the COVID-19 total in the national capital was 18,66,380 on Wednesday, with a death toll of 26,158. The previous day, 12,022 COVID-19 tests were done in Delhi, according to the bulletin.
On Sunday, the capital recorded 141 cases and one death, with a positive rate of 1.29 percent. On Saturday, it witnessed 160 COVID-19 cases with a 1.55 percent positive rate.
On Friday, the city recorded 146 cases with a 1.39 percent positive rate and one fatality. The number of daily COVID-19 cases in Delhi peaked at 28,867 in mid-January this year, during the third wave of the epidemic.
On January 14, the city had the highest positive rate during the third wave of the pandemic, which was predominantly driven by the highly transmissible Omicron type of coronavirus. According to the bulletin, there are 504 COVID-19 patients in home isolation in the capital.
In Delhi hospitals, there are 9,745 beds for COVID-19 patients, with 43 (0.44%) of them filled, according to the report. Dr. Richa Sareen, the consultant of pulmonology at Fortis Hospital, said on Tuesday that while this is not a panic scenario, it is important to be cautious and follow COVID-appropriate behavior.
While the doctor was critical of the municipal government’s recent decision to eliminate the mask mandate, he noted it was not a “static decision” and that the regulations might be amended again if the situation warranted. Vaccination and herd immunity, according to numerous specialists, has “definitely offered a measure of protection” to people.
While everyday instances have been increasing, Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Apollo Hospital, cautioned that “a feeling of complacency has crept in among the populace” in general, especially after the mask mandate was withdrawn. “I don’t foresee a new wave as long as we stay cautious, practice COVID-appropriate behavior, and wear masks when we’re outside, especially in busy locations,” he said.
“However, I am seeing images on the internet and hearing stories that people are gathering in huge numbers and that few are wearing masks, implying that the number of cases may increase,” he added.
Published: Sayli Vendurlekar
Editor: Khushi Thakur
