Highest spike of 1,295 COVID-19 cases in Delhi takes total to over 19K; death toll 473

(Eds: With additional details)

New Delhi, May 31 () For the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, Delhi witnessed record single-day spike of coronavirus cases which pushed the total tally close to 20,000 while the death toll mounted to 473, authorities said.

With the highest daily rise of 1,295 cases on Sunday, the total number of cases reported in the national capital so far reached 19,844. This is the first time that over 1,200 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the city in a day.

The previous highest spike in fresh cases -- 1163 -- was recorded on Saturday.

In a bulletin issued on Sunday, the Delhi health department said the death toll from coronavirus infection has risen to 473, and the total number of cases mounted to 19,844.

It said, 57 COVID-19 deaths took place between April 5 and May 30, nine fatalities on May 29 and four on May 30.

The health department, however, added that the cumulative death figure refers to fatalities where primary cause of death was found to be COVID-19, as per the report of the Death Audit Committee on the basis of case sheets received from various hospitals.

The Delhi government has issued showcause notices to four leading facilities in the national capital, including AIIMS and LNJP Hospital -- for "delay in reporting death cases", authorities said on Sunday.

While LNJP Hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government, rest three hospitals are under the central government.

Besides, memoranda have been issued to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital also to explain the reasons for "delay in reporting death cases and for violation of the directions" issued by the health and other authorities.

The statement also said, an advisory has been issued to the LNJP Hospital "to be careful in future" and follow the orders and guidelines issued by the department in letter and spirit so that "no anomaly" is reported in death figured by the government.

Facing criticism for "under reporting" COVID-19 deaths, the Delhi government recently had issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for hospitals and other health facilities in the city on reporting fatalities due to coronavirus.

As many as 8,478 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far, while there are 10,893 active cases, the Delhi health department said.

A total of 212,784 COVID-19 tests have been conducted till date, it said. Total number of COVID-19 positive patients under home isolation stands at 5,781, the bulletin said.

According to the Delhi Health Department bulletin, out of the total 19,844 cases recorded so far, at least 2,586 are admitted at various hospitals like LNJP Hospital, RML Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) and AIIMS Jhajjhar, adding 208 of them are in ICU and 43 on ventilators.

The number of containment zones in Delhi was 103 on Sunday, according to the bulletin.

An order has been issued for constitution of a five-member advisory committee to examine and suggest various steps of homeopathy system of medicine for immunity booster for COVID-19 patients, it said. KND NSD NSD