Around 65% new COVID-19 infections in Delhi are below 35 years of age, says Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that the national capital is facing an alarming situation as around 65 per cent new Covid-19 cases in Delhi are below 35 years of age.

"Fourth wave of Covid-19 in Delhi has made the situation worse than what it was during the third peak. Over 10,000 Covid-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours, this is a worrisome situation, Kejriwal said.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the Delhi Government is fully prepared to combat the fourth wave of coronavirus in the capital and the health system in all government and private hospitals has been revamped.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister urged the people of Delhi to rush towards hospitals only if there is a serious symptom of Covid-19 infection. "More and more people are rushing to hospitals even if they have mild symptoms. If all people would rush towards hospitals, our emergency health system would collapse. ICU beds would be occupied by non-serious patients. If this happens, the health system will collapse and we will have no option but to impose lockdown," Kejriwal stated.

However, he reiterated that the state government is not in favour of imposing lockdown. "No Government will consider a lockdown until the health system collapses. Hence I would urge people of the city to follow Covid-19 measures."

Kejriwal also stated that he has urged the Centre to open Covid-19 vaccination for all ages. "People below the age of 45 should also be vaccinated to break the cycle of the coronavirus. Around 65 per cent new cases of Covid-19 in Delhi are below 35 years. People below the age of 45 should also be vaccinated to break the cycle of the coronavirus," he added.

Kejriwal continued, "I have requested the centre many times regarding the removal of age restrictions on taking Covid-19 jab. The Delhi government is ready to conduct a door-to-door campaign to vaccinate people."

Delhi has recorded 10,732 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours which is the highest single-day surge in the national capital till date, according to data shared by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday. Addressing an online press conference, he also said that the current fourth wave of the pandemic in the city is "very dangerous" and is spreading at such a rapid rate that it has left many people baffled.

"Cases have escalated in a big way in the last 10-15 days. And, in the past 24 hours, the city has recorded 10,732 cases," he said.

The previous highest-ever single-day spike in Delhi of 8,593 cases was reported on November 11, 2020, while on November 19, the city had recorded 131 COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day fatality count till date.

"Prior to 10,732 cases, Delhi had recorded about 7,900 cases, and over 8,500 cases a day prior to that," he said.

This is also the first time daily COVID cases have breached the 10,000-mark in the national capital since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

On Saturday, 7,897 cases and 39 fatalities were registered. The positivity rate also mounted to 10.21 per cent, breaching the 10 per cent-mark for the first time this year.

The positivity rate mid-November last year stood above 15 per cent.

On Friday, 8,521 cases and 39 deaths were recorded. This was also the first time that over 8,000 cases were recorded in a day this year amid a massive spike in cases in the last few weeks.

On Thursday, the city had recorded 7,437 cases. This was also the first time that over 7,000 cases were reported in a day this year.

On preceding two days, the cases count had stood above 5,000.

On November 27, the city had recorded 5,482 cases and 6,224 cases on November 24 and 7,486 on November 18, according to official data.

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