The Covid-19 positivity rate has continuously been on the decline and it has hovered around five per cent for the past seven days which is a sign of relief as it points to the fact that the effect of the third wave in Delhi is on perpetual decline, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Satyendar Jain said.
The health minister said that the Positivity rate has seen a major difference of 80 per cent since November 7. He thanked the frontline and healthcare workers for their contribution to contain Coronavirus. At present, there are around 13,000 beds vacant, a number which is unmatched by any other Indian state. Delhi has the infrastructural ability for storage as well as application of the vaccine, and is just waiting for it to be made available, he said.
Jain said there were 2463 new cases in Delhi on Tuesday and the positivity rate was 3.42 per cent. "Positivity rate has been constantly declining and has been below the five per cent mark since the past seven days, which is a sign of relief. There were 50 deaths yesterday, but from November 1 to present, this has been the lowest statistic. The positivity rate of RT-PCR test is looming around 6-6.5 per cent and overall positivity rate has come down to three per cent as compared to 15.26 per cent on November 7. The rate has seen a significant difference of 80 per cent," he said.
"We can say that the third wave in Delhi is fading away, however it is not over yet. I sincerely thank all the frontline and health workers who have been rigorously active in the course of this pandemic, putting their lives at stake in order to provide service to the citizens. I request all Delhiites to continue taking all the necessary precautions in order to successfully combat the third wave" said Jain.
Responding to the query surrounding the death rate, the minister said, "Earlier, we saw a sudden increase in deaths because of the hazardous pollution levels in Delhi. Combined with the virus, a lot of people were indisposed. Still, a lot of people are admitted in the hospitals. This has a lagging effect meaning that we see changes after a gap of 2-3 weeks. Now that cases have decreased, the death rate too will eventually fall."
Shedding light on the vacancy of beds in Delhi hospitals, Jain said, "Delhi has 18800 beds, out of which more than 13000 beds are vacant. This number remains unmatched by any other Indian state. However the situation of ICU beds, is under review"
"More than two lakh registrations have come for the first trial of the Covid-19 vaccine in Delhi. The priority is healthcare and frontline workers. After which the focus will be on the old and subsequently moving to the entire population of Delhi. Delhi Government is fully capable of rolling out the vaccine to the entire population of Delhi. We are prepared with the storage facilities too," the minister said.