The current active case tally stands at 6,867, out of which 563 are currently admitted to different city hospitals. (Representative image)NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded 917 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours on Tuesday, the first time the figure dipped below the 1,000-mark after August 1. The test positivity rate, however, jumped to 19.20% as the cases were reported from just 4,775 tests on Independence Day. With August 15 being a national holiday, most of the Covid testing centres and private labs were closed. The current active case tally stands at 6,867, out of which 563 are currently admitted to different city hospitals. Delhi also recorded three deaths on Tuesday, with August witnessing 81 Covid fatalities or more than five deaths on average every day. The count is the highest since February, which saw 257 fatalities — more than nine daily deaths on average. Also, August has already recorded 30,968 cases, the highest since this January. With the national capital witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases, test positivity rate and fatalities after nearly six months, lieutenant governor V K Saxena said the pandemic was far from over and appealed to everyone to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. “We are witnessing a rise in Covid-19 infections, consistently high positivity and cases of reinfection. It is essential that we realise that the pandemic is far from over… I appeal to all to strictly adhere to COVID Appropriate Behaviour. We cannot afford to let our guards down,” he tweeted. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who chaired a meeting of senior officials on Tuesday to expedite coverage of booster shots, said people who had been jabbed with precautionary doses were safer than others. He said 90% of the novelcorona virus-infected patients admitted to the hospital were those with two doses of the vaccine, while 10% such patients had taken the booster shot. “It is clear that people who took precautionary doses are safer,” he said. Sisodia said the government was keeping a close watch on the situation and had upgraded its health infrastructure. All hospitals have been asked to remain alert. “However, people are also showing carelessness, and many people are not taking precautionary doses.” The year began with the national capital reeling under a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases fuelled by the Omicron variant, with January recording 3.8 lakh cases and 758 fatalities. The number of cases, however, massively dropped from February and the atalities were also comparatively lower with both March (30) and April (23) recording less than one death on average per day. The number remained lower than two deaths on average per day in May (35), June (51), and July (50). “Prevention is better than cure. All those who have not yet taken the vaccine or have taken only the first or second dose should take the precautionary dose as soon as possible,” Sisodia reiterated, adding that wearing a mask outside can also prevent most cases. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIAFacebookTwitterInstagramKOO APPYOUTUBE
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/covid-has-taken-81-lives-already-in-aug/articleshow/93602030.cms
