Delhi registered 3,194 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, thus witnessing the highest single-day rise in cases since 20 May 2021. With this, the positivity rate in the national capital has gone up to 4.59%, which too is the highest since 20 May 2021. The national capital also witnessed one death in the last 24 hours. However, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhiites “not to panic”, saying that there is near negligible demand for oxygen in the union territory. “Today we are prepared with 37,000 oxygen beds, but only 82 oxygen beds are occupied in Delhi. Only 0.22% of beds are occupied and 99.78% of beds are unoccupied… There is no need to panic, but we have to be responsible by wearing marks and avoiding gatherings. This Covid variant is very mild,” CM Arvind Kejriwal told a press conference.
CM Kejriwal, referring to the Covid situation in Delhi earlier, said that during the second wave, there were 6,600 active cases in Delhi and the number of ventilators occupied was 145. However, today, Delhi has only 5 ventilators occupied, with 6,360 active Covid cases; while the number of oxygen beds occupied was 1,150, but at present, the number is 82.
Cases are rising in other parts of country too, with Mumbai reporting 8,063 cases in the last 24 hours, while Kolkata registered 3,194 cases. Bengaluru and Chennai saw 923 and 776 cases, respectively. The country as a whole reported a rise of 27,553 cases and 284 deaths on Sunday.
Many states are announcing restrictions, with Haryana extending its lockdown till 5 January. The notice stated that under the guidelines of Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana, the state has imposed restrictions in the five districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ambala, Panchkula and Sonipat. The notice stated that all cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes would remain closed. Similarly, offices (government and private), except for emergency/essential services, have been advised to function with 50% staff attendance. Also, malls and markets are allowed to open up to 5 pm. Moreover, bars and restaurants are allowed to operate with a 50% seating capacity. Schools are shut till 12 January. Also, only fully vaccinated people are allowed to enter certain places like sabzi mandi, grain markets, bus stands, railway stations, parks, religious places, bars, restaurants, hotels, and so forth.
Similarly, the West Bengal government too announced new restrictions due to the sudden spike in Covid cases. The state has announced that all government and private offices will operate with 50% attendance and that swimming pools, spas, beauty parlours, gyms, and wellness centres will stay closed from Monday. Similarly, all schools, colleges, and universities will be closed from Monday. Only, administrative activities will be permitted with 50% of the employees at a time. Also, shopping malls, market complexes may function with restricted entry, that is 50% of the capacity at a time, up to 10 pm. Moreover, not more than 50 people are allowed at any social, religious, or cultural gatherings at a time, and not more than 20 people are allowed for funeral services. Local trains shall operate with 50% seating capacity up to 7 pm only and Metro services will operate with 50% seating capacity as per the usual operational time. The state government also restricted the number of flights from Delhi and Mumbai to only twice a week from 5 January.
With agency inputs