Delhi’s COVID positivity rate rises; citizens are taking fewer booster doses say authorities

• Delhi is reporting more than 600 cases everyday in the past six days.
• The positivity rate — at 7% — is the highest since May 4.
• LG VK Saxena asked the officials to ensure genome sequencing to detect any new variant.

Yet again, the national capital of India is becoming the epicenter of Covid-19 cases. In the last few days, its daily positivity rate jumped to 7%.

In the last 24 hours, it reported over 614 cases — a slight decline in the daily numbers, as per data by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The positivity rate is the highest since May 4 and the state has been recording over 600 cases from the past six days. The number of active cases has also jumped to 2,561 on Monday.

However, officials clarified that the reason behind the high positivity rate was lower testing on Sunday. On Sunday, June 12, Delhi’s fresh cases of COVID-19 were at 735 cases, while it was 795 on Saturday.

Overall, the hospitalization rate remains low even as the cases are spiking. According to Delhi government’s corona application, only 130 patients are currently hospitalized due to COVID.

The Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, on Monday after a meeting also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, directed the officials to proactively ensure genome sequencing in the state to detect any new variant emerging amid a spike in COVID cases in the city.

“Underlining the need for enhanced testing, coupled with a focus on the test, track, treat and vaccinate strategy to successfully fight the pandemic, the LG also instructed officials to ensure genome sequencing of cases being reported to proactively address any new variant,” said an official from LG’s office.

The administration of precaution doses is low in Delhi

Saxena also pointed out that the administration of precaution doses is low in Delhi and asked the officials to spread awareness among people through public outreach programmes.

“We are processing around 100 samples for genome sequencing every day. With the sudden surge from last week, the samples of those who tested positive recently are already sent for sequencing and the results are expected to be out in a few days. However, before the spike, there was no report of a new variant in the city,” said Dr Kumar of Lok Nayak Hospital, a state-run hospital where genome sequencing is done.

The daily COVID graph tally is witnessing a steep rise once again from the past couple of weeks now. Cases in Maharashtra and Kerala are surging the most as compared to other states in India.

India recorded 6,594 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths in the span of 24 hours, as of today, June 14.

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