Rise in Covid cases in Delhi; hospitals, polyclinics asked to scale up testing

Hospitals polyclinics and dispensaries in Delhi have been instructed by health department authorities to scale up testing amid an upward trend in COVID19 cases here in the past several days sources said on SaturdayMore than 3800 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the city during the March 30April 7 periodDelhi logged 733 Covid cases the highest in over seven months on Friday with a positivity rate of 1993 per cent according to data shared by the city governments health department The sources said the department has instructed hospitals polyclinics and dispensaries in the city to increase Covid testingAuthorities at these facilities have been told that anyone who visits such facilities and exhibits ILI influenzalike illness symptoms such as fever cough body ache is to be tested as cases have risen and the daily count is growing steadily a source saidAt present the citys COVID19 death toll stands at 26536 according to Fridays health bulletinWith the new cases on Friday Delhis infection tally has risen to 2013403 The data showed that 3678 Covid tests were conducted on Thursday Delhi has witnessed a spurt in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last several days amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country The Delhi government is keeping an eye on the spurt in Covid cases in the national capital and is prepared to face any eventuality Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said last week Addressing reporters after chairing a review meeting on the Covid situation Kejriwal had said there was no need to worry for now and that the city government was taking all required stepsAmid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases in Delhi medical experts say the new XBB116 variant of the virus could be driving the surge However they maintained that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covidappropriate behaviour and get booster shots of the vaccines Another source claimed that Covid vaccine doses at city government facilities are not in stock at presentAlso read 6155 fresh Covid cases in India active cases climb to 31194Request had been sent to the Centre for allotment of more Covid vaccine doses The old stock has an expiry period so all doses were used before that date Besides people are not showing keenness to get the booster dose for multiple reasons so there arent many takers anyway he saidPrecaution doses are available at private hospitals and those who havent got their booster dose administered should get it done a senior doctor in the health department saidMany people who have got all three shots taken are also getting infected with Covid Reports claiming side effects of vaccines including on the heart is also a factor in keeping people away And a section of people also feel that now they have got immunity from previous infection or first two doses so they are not going for the booster dose So its an interplay of multiple factors due to which less number of people have so far got precautions doses in Delhi which is about 25 per cent of the eligible population in this category he saidDoctors said as testing is to be ramped up more kits and equipment will be used and the health department is making preparations for it The national capital had recorded 620 cases on August 26On Thursday 606 cases were logged with a positivity rate of 1698 per cent One fatality was also reported On Wednesday the city logged a positivity rate of 2654 per cent the highest in nearly 15 months with 509 people testing positive in a single day In January last year the positivity rate had touched the 30per cent markThe number of fresh cases had dropped to zero on January 16 the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic It has risen again in the past several daysIn the March 30April 7 period 3802 cases and six fatalities have been recorded including two deaths on April 3 Nearly 120 of the 7989 beds in dedicated Covid hospitals in the city are occupied while 1491 patients are in home isolation the health department said on FridayThe number of active cases currently stands at 2331 a rise of over 150 per cent since March 30 when the corresponding figure was 932This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever