Delhi’s COVID Spike Raises Hospitalisations, 8-10 Deaths Reported Every Day

New Delhi: Delhi on August 15 reported 1,227 new COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 14.57 per cent, and eight deaths, according to the data shared by the health department. Prior to this, the city logged more than 2,000 cases daily for 12 consecutive days. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had last week said though the cases were on the rise, there was no need to panic as most of them were mild. Due to a rise in hospitalisations, authorities urged people to wear masks and observe COVID-19 precautions. Delhi’s Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena also tweeted,

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.

Public Health Expert Dr Suneela Garg, a member of the Lancet Commission, told NDTV,

From a public health perspective, we need to constantly keep a watch on the covid situation across the country. We do have a surveillance system, and when we look at Delhi’s situation, we are constantly getting 2,000 plus cases. Even though the recovery rate is good, what we are concerned about is hospitalisations. If I were to talk in numbers, Delhi has over 9,400 hospital beds , out of which 588 beds are occupied and then we have over 8,800 oxygen beds, if which 560 are occupied. When it comes to ICU beds, we have 2,129 of them and over 20 are occupied at the moment with 65 patients on ventilation. Looking at these numbers, we need to be cautious, I wouldn’t say we need to panic.

Also Read: Omicron-Specific Vaccine Expected In Six Months: Serum Institute’s Adar Poonawalla To NDTV

These numbers are not large however, calls for caution, she explains and this is why mask mandates are revoked. Dr Garg says that people need to be careful with masks and must be complacent in the capital, especially. She also asserts on the importance of booster doses and urges everyone to get their booster dose.

COVID is not gone from our lives yet. Science and constant observations have taught us that immunity veins over a period of time. Though, people who are vaccinated with two doses, will still be better off with infection as compared to those who haven’t taken any dose. But people should still come and take their booster shots, especially the elderly and comorbid citizens, she said.

Delhi has already buckled up, Dr Garg says and adds that we need to be very vigilant about masks, hand washing and sanitisation. People who have not taken two doses of vaccines from age 12, must take their jabs as soon as possible, Dr Garg asserts given the rise in the number of cases. Lastly, she says that not just the capital, but the entire country must be vigilant now, Dr Garg added,

We are talking one planet, one health, we are talking about global health security, therefore, we need to be vigilant across the country and governments need to be very responsive.

Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: Gap Between Second COVID Jab And Booster Dose Reduced From 9 To 6 Months

Delhi reported its all-time high of daily COVID-19 cases of 28,867 on January 13 and a positivity rate of 30.6 per cent a day later during the third wave of the pandemic.

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. 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 will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that 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 the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.