New Delhi: National Capital Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that Delhi’s COVID-19 cases are likely to peak “in a day or two” and after that the infection may start falling in the third wave. The national capital reported over 19,000 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, down slightly from Sunday’s 22,751. Waiting for today’s data.
When asked whether the Delhi government would reconsider the weekend curfew, the health minister said, “The peak has already arrived, or will come in a day or two. It (peak) will definitely happen this week. After that. Cases should start falling, but it’s possible that we could implement another curfew to remind people not to lower their security.”
Every fourth person who tests COVID-19 in Delhi is found to be positive. The positivity rate in the national capital stood at 25 per cent yesterday, the highest since May 5 last year. The city has also reported 17 deaths.
He said, “Covid-19 cases in Delhi are usually high, as most international flights land here. That is why Omicron spread rapidly in Delhi. A good sign is that hospitalizations are very less. Around 20,000 daily Despite seeing the number of cases, the hospital has only 2,000 beds, while 12,000 beds are vacant for COVID-19 patients. In the last wave, when the city was seeing 20,000 cases a day, at least 12,000-13,000 beds was captured.”
The health minister said, “So now the number of beds is six times less. It seems that the severity is less. Of the 2,000 admitted in hospitals, only 65 are in ICU (intensive care units).”
Delhi has recorded more COVID-19 deaths in the first 10 days of this month than the total deaths in the last five months. Government data shows that most of those who died had comorbidities and were not vaccinated.
India also launched a booster shot campaign for frontline workers and vulnerable people aged 60 and above, as officials grapple with the fast-growing pandemic driven by Omicron variants.
The daily case numbers are approaching the huge figures seen last year. People 60 years of age and older with pre-existing medical conditions, healthcare professionals and other essential workers are eligible for a booster nine months after their second job.
first published:Jan. 11, 2022, 11:05 a.m.
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