Mallica Joshi

Festive season lacklustre, says Sisodia, crucial to open sector to address unemployment

Waterlogging under the Minto Road railway bridge is an almost inevitable monsoon event in the capital. The problem lies in the natural gradient of the land, the heritage bridge that cannot be easilt re-engineered, and the larger issue of Delhi’s choked and dysfunctional drainage system.

According to Delhi government sources, data collated by them shows that 27,152 death registrations were done in the capital in April, May and June last year. This year the number is 21,344. This includes Covid-19 deaths, which stand at 3,571 so far.

On Thursday, Delhi saw 1,652 new cases, 58 deaths and 1,994 recoveries. The total caseload is now 1,18,645 and the death toll stands at 3,545. The total number of patients recovered/discharged is 97,693.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Wednesday that the capital’s Covid-19 growth has slowed, remaining well below previous projections

According to district-wise data between June 14 and July 12, the highest percentage of hospitalisation was seen in New Delhi and South Delhi districts. Both districts also have a large number of hospitals and clinics.

On Monday, the capital recorded 1,246 cases and 40 deaths — the first time in weeks cases have dipped below the 1,500-mark.

Over the past two weeks, more people have been discharged than admitted to hospitals. Between June 23 — when the highest number of patients were admitted — and July 12, there has been a 31% drop in admissions.

An assessment of occupancy carried out by the Delhi government shows that the weekly new bed occupancy rate — the difference between number of patients admitted and discharged — has been dipping for the past five weeks, after peaking in the first week of June.

Delhi’s doubling rate has increased to approximately 17 days. The city had recorded 53,116 cases till June 19, with 2,035 deaths.

According to data shared by the Delhi government, the city’s average weekly positivity rate has gone from its highest point of 31% in the second week of June to 18% in the previous week, June 22 to 28.

Delhi was among the first few states to get ICMR approval to conduct trials with plasma therapy, which is still at trial stage.

On Saturday, 2,948 fresh Covid-19 cases were recorded in the city, taking the total to 80,188, of which 28,329 are active. Total death toll touched 2,558 with 66 people dying between early Friday and early Saturday.

No clear picture on what will happen in the days to come, but Delhi in a comfortable situation in terms of hospital beds, says Chief Minister.

In Delhi, which is not a full state and has a special status while being a Union Territory, the services department comes under the Centre, through the Lieutenant Governor.

The Delhi government has opposed Baijal’s order, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia raising it with the Centre and L-G.

Delhi has seen over 3,000 cases every day for the past three days. On Sunday, the city saw 3,000 new cases and 63 deaths, taking the total cases to 59,746 and deaths to 2,175.

The L-G also said it was possible that “individuals who are positive (and) may have moderate to severe illness necessitating hospitalization” can be missed if they are isolated at home.

“Delhi government has opposed the LG’s decision to end home isolation. There is no decision on this either," Sisodia tweeted. A meeting has been called again at 5 pm to discuss both issues.

At present, Delhi has 12,514 hospital beds, 5,974 beds in Covid centres, and 344 beds in Covid health centres. Those who don’t have facilities for home quarantine are being sent to Covid case centres.

District magistrates of 11 districts in the city have set up 193 testing centres and deployed 341 teams to carry out the tests.

For some restaurants, the rent at Khan Market amounts to half their costs.

Shah's visit to Lok Nayak Hospital around 4 pm came a day after he met with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to discuss the Covid-19 crisis in the capital, and hours after an all-party meeting with representatives of the AAP, BJP, and Congress in Delhi.

While the Delhi government-run hospitals have a total of almost 12,000 beds (as per the Economic Survey of Delhi 2019-20), the Centre-run and autonomous institutions have around 11,000.