Delhi continues to witness a dip in new coronavirus cases as 12,651 infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing down the positivity rate to below 20%. According to the Delhi government’s health bulletin released on Monday, the positivity rate came down to 19.10%, which is the lowest since 16 April, when it was 19.7%. On 22 April, a positivity rate of 36.2%, the highest so far, was recorded. A total of 66,234 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.
However, Delhi is facing a severe shortage of vaccines even as it prepares for the “third wave”. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the national capital was preparing for the third wave of Covid-19 and the infrastructures was being scaled up to deal with 30,000 daily cases.
The Chief Minister, during a visit to the makeshift Covid care centre near the GTB hospital, said, “500 ICU beds have been set up near GTB Hospital and another 500 ICU beds have been set up near LNJP Hospital.” “We must prepare for the third wave. In this wave, Delhi recorded a maximum of 28,000 cases in a day. The whole infrastructure was under pressure after this. The scale at which we are creating infrastructure, we will be able to deal even if 30,000 daily cases are reported in the next wave,” Kejriwal told journalists.
Kejriwal said that the Delhi government was left with a Covid vaccine stock for 3-4 days.
“Vaccine has played a major role in curbing the Covid-19 cases. We can prevent the third wave if we vaccinate people on a large scale, but the supply of vaccines is an issue,” he said.
The Delhi CM further said, “We have placed orders with companies. We request the Centre to give us more vaccines.”
Kejriwal had earlier written
to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan urging him to increase the monthly supply of vaccines to the national capital. In the letter, Kejriwal also requested that a uniform price be fixed for the vaccines for supplies made to governments and to private hospitals.
He also requested the Centre for the implementation of the universal immunisation program and to direct Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to increase monthly supplies to Delhi to 60 lakh doses from May to July.
On Monday, according to official data, the national capital recorded 12,651 new Covid-19 cases and 319 deaths in the last 24 hours. The active cases of Covid-19 in Delhi stand at 85,258. The city also logged 13,306 discharges in the last 24 hours. The cumulative caseload in the national capital mounted to 1,336,218 including 85,258 active cases and 1,231,297 total discharges/recoveries. The total death toll touched 19,663 including the new deaths.
According to the health bulletin, 1,764 beneficiaries were vaccinated in the last 24 hours. Out of these, 1,160 received their first dose and 604 took their second jab. The cumulative number of beneficiaries vaccinated in the national capital so far is 3,877,400.
Meanwhile, to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Delhi government has extended the lockdown till 17 May. Delhi has been under a lockdown since 19 April in view of the second Covid-19 wave. In the fresh guidelines issued by the Delhi government, Delhi Metro services have been suspended from Monday and marriage ceremonies in all public places have been prohibited. As per the latest guideline, marriages have only been permitted in court or at home with a maximum of 20 peoples’ participation.
Possession of e-pass for movement in the national capital for essential services remains in place.
WITH ANI INPUTS