Highlights
- Delhi has a COVID-19 recovery rate of more than 90 per cent
- COVID testing will be doubled from around 20,000 tests daily to 40,000: CM
- No COVID-19 patient in home isolation has died after July 14: CM
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday (August 26) said that coronavirus testing in the national capital will be doubled from around 20,000 tests daily to 40,000 while highlighting that there has been a marginal increase in the COVID-19 cases during the last few days. He informed that the coronavirus death rate has dropped to 1.4 per cent in August and around 10,000 beds are still vacant in hospitals of Delhi.
Also Read: Delhi Opens Post-COVID Clinic For Recovered Patients, Here’s How It Will Help
There has been a marginal increase in COVID-19 cases in the last few days. We cannot let the condition to become worse. After August 17, daily cases are around 1,200-1,500. 1,693 new cases have been reported. Recovery rate is more than 90 per cent in the national capital. Rate of deaths due to coronavirus is declining. In August, the death rate was 1.4 per cent, CM Kejriwal said at a press conference.
“Till today 3,700 beds are occupied including 2,900 patients from Delhi and rest from other states. Today we have 14,130 beds in which 10,000 beds are vacant. We have a sufficient number of ambulances. The situation is in control. We are fully prepared. I have directed that number of tests will be doubled in the coming days. Right now we are doing around 20,000 tests and we will increase it to 40,000 within one week,” he said.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that symptoms like breathlessness and low oxygen level remain in some patients who tested negative and added that the government will provide them oximeters and oxygen concentrators at their home if required.
We are witnessing a new trend that some patients who have tested negative and have been discharged from hospitals, they are complaining of breathing and oxygen problem. Some patients have also died. Our Health Minister also took time to recover fully. The government has taken the decision to provide them. If their oxygen levels drop, oxygen concentrators will also be provided to such patients. The government will ensure availability of oxygen for free at their home so that they don’t need to go to hospitals, CM Kejriwal said.
He also underlined that no COVID-19 patient in home isolation has died after July 14.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people to follow the coronavirus protocols and asserted that there should not be complacency.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.
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