Delhi on Thursday registered 15,097 fresh Covid-19 cases and six deaths in the last 24 hours, 41 per cent jump over the previous day count. According to the Delhi health bulletin, the positivity rate jumped to 15.34 per cent.
On Wednesday, 10,665 cases were reported and on Tuesday 5,481 cases, according to official figures.
The huge spike in fresh cases over the past several days here is being recorded amid a significant jump in cases of the new Omicron variant of the virus. The death toll due to the coronavirus infection in Delhi has now risen to 25,127.
The number of cumulative cases on Thursday stood at 14,89,463. Over 14.32 lakh patients have recovered from the infection.
During the height of the second wave of the pandemic, 28,395 cases, the highest-ever single-day tally here, and 277 deaths were recorded in Delhi on April 20 last year, according to official figures.
Nine Covid-19 deaths were reported here in December last year, and seven in November, according to official data. Delhi had recorded four Covid-19 deaths in October and five in September.
A total of 98,434 tests — 80,051 RT-PCR tests and 18,383 rapid antigen tests — were conducted a day ago, the bulletin said.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain said, “Patients infected with Omicron can be treated at home. People should not panic and go to the hospital only if the symptoms are severe.”
Jain also said lockdown will not be imposed in the national Capital.
He said as per the new guidelines if the SPO2 level is above 93 per cent, there is no need to go to the hospital. He said no one has died as a result of the new Omicron variant and no Omicron patient has yet required oxygen or ventilator support.
He urged Delhi residents not to visit the hospital unless they were in immediate need. “There are enough beds in Delhi’s hospitals, so there is no need to panic. If the symptoms are minor, there is no need to go to the hospital. Only go to the hospital if your symptoms are severe,” he said.
According to the new guidelines of the Health Ministry, patients with mild symptoms and asymptomatic patients do not need to go to the hospital. Asymptomatic patients can be treated at home.