Delhi records 142 fresh Covid cases, one death

Delhi recorded 142 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.43 per cent and one Covid-linked death on Friday, according to data shared by the city government’s health department.

With this, the national capital’s case tally climbed to 20,39,883 and the death toll rose to 26,638, a health department bulletin said and added that COVID-19 was incidental in the single fresh death reported in the city on Friday.

The fresh cases emerged from 2,613 tests conducted the previous day, it stated.

The number of active cases stands at 1,290 and of these, 1,019 patients are in home isolation, the bulletin said.

Delhi recorded 199 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 7.07 per cent and three Covid-linked deaths on Thursday. On Wednesday, the city logged 272 cases with a positivity rate of 8.39 per cent and one death.

On Tuesday, the capital logged 289 cases with a positivity rate of 9.74 per cent and one death and on Monday, it reported 259 cases with a positivity rate of 14.3 per cent and two deaths.

Only 138 of the 7,976 COVID-19 beds in the national capital are occupied, according to Friday’s bulletin.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi had dropped to zero on January 16 for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. However, the city has witnessed a spurt in fresh cases over the past month.

On April 11, mock drills were conducted in Delhi hospitals to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality.

Scientists have said that the XBB.1.16 variant of coronavirus is responsible for the current surge in cases. But the infection is supposed to be milder in nature and may not lead to a rise in hospitalisation rate as Indians have likely developed hybrid immunity due to vaccination and natural exposure to the disease. The Centre, however, has urged people to wear masks in crowded places and complete their vaccination doses.

The health ministry has directed states and union territories to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection. The ministry has advised state governments to examine the covid-19 situation at micro level (district and sub-districts) and maintain focus on the implementation of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of covid-19 duly ensuring effective compliance. (With inputs from PTI)