With the national Capital witnessing resurge in Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks raising fears of further lockdown, the Delhi Government on Monday made it clear that there will not be any lockdown because the third Covid-19 wave has peaked out.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said the virus cannot be contained through lockdown and that people should protect themselves by wearing face masks.
Delhi has witnessed a spurt in coronavirus cases since October 28 when the daily rise breached the 5,000-mark for the first time and it crossed the 8,000-mark on Wednesday. On Thursday, 104 deaths, the highest in over five months, were recorded in the city.
Asked whether the lockdown would be reimposed in Delhi, Jain said, “No chance... I can tell you that the peak of the third wave is gone.”
“Positivity rate is the main indicator in assessing the Covid-19 situation and it had to be observed over a week’s time. First peak was in June, when it stood at nearly 37 per cent, in September when the second wave happened, it was 12-13 per cent, and in the third wave, it was at its high, at 15 per cent few days ago and then falling. Yesterday, also it was around 15 per cent. So, I can say, the peak is gone,” Jain said.
Jain’s remarks come a day after the Centre announced a slew of steps, including making available 300 additional ICU beds, doubling the number of daily RTPCR tests and a house-to-house survey in the national Capital to check the spiralling numbers of cases in Delhi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said some of the hospitals under the municipal corporations of Delhi will be converted into dedicated Covid hospitals.
The National Centre for Disease Control, in a report drafted recently, had warned that Delhi needed to be prepared for about 15,000 fresh Covid-19 cases per day, taking into account the winter-related respiratory problems, a large influx of patients from outside and festive gatherings.
Asked about availability of beds, he said, about 50 per cent of the over 16,000 beds are available, and the issue is only of ICU beds, even in private hospitals.
“We had requested the Centre to augment ICU beds in Centre-run hospitals here. And, it has been assured that about 750 ICU beds in such hospitals will be arranged,” Jain told reporters.
The Delhi Health Minister reiterated that the number of cases have proportionately increased as “we are conducting tests on a massive scale”.
