496 New Covid Cases In Delhi Today, Nearly 50% Jump In A Day

Delhi recorded a massive spike in Covid cases just hours after the imposition of a set of restrictions under the "Yellow Alert" -- 496 new cases and one death have been recorded in the last 24 hours, a 50 per cent jump. This is the biggest single-day spike since June 2.  The positivity rate stands at 0.89 per cent -- the highest since May 31.

In Mumbai, 1,377 new cases and one death was recorded.

Yesterday, the national capital recorded 331 new cases, the biggest single-day spike in infections in more than six months. Of the new cases, 142 were of Omicron, the highly contagious variant that is sweeping through the world.

Data has showed that the average daily rise of Covid this time is almost 21 per cent faster than during the second wave in March-April.  A seven-day moving average showed that the cases have shot up from 56 to 199.

Today's figures are likely to push the rate further north.

While announcing the "Yellow Alert" today -- activated as the positivity rate touched the crucial .05 per cent bar and crossed it -- Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: "We are disheartened when we see crowding at markets and malls. We will have to shut down markets if this continues. None of us wants that. If you won't take care of yourselves, who will? We don't want you to fall ill… These restrictions are being imposed for you. I know you all are tired of restrictions, but it is important and there is nothing we can do about it".

Under the new restrictions, Schools, colleges and educational institutions, cinema halls and gyms will be shut and malls and shops will open on an odd-even basis within fixed hours. Delhi Metro will run with 50 per cent seating capacity. Night curfew between 10 pm and 5 am has already started.