Coronavirus Cases in Delhi: Delhi has been battling a fresh surge in coronavirus cases.
Highlights
- Delhi recorded more than 10,000 Covid cases for 3rd consecutive day
- Arvind Kejriwal urged people to step out of homes "only if necessary"
- India recorded 1.61 lakh cases in the last 24 hours
A fresh surge of 13,500 Covid cases - the highest single-day spike so far - has taken Delhi's caseload to 7,36,788 total infections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today as he urged the central government to cancel the CBSE board exams. This is the third consecutive day that the national capital witnessed a record spike in Covid infections.
"In the last 24 hours, the city saw a surge of 13,500 fresh Covid cases. At the peak of third Covid wave in November, Delhi had seen the biggest single-day surge of 8,500 cases. The fourth wave, as we all know, is much more dangerous. Youth and children are getting affected amid the fourth wave," Arvind Kejriwal said during a video address this afternoon.
"I urge all of you to step out of homes only if absolutely necessary," he added, urging all those above 45 years of age to get vaccinated.
On CBSE board exams, the Chief Minister made an appeal to the centre. "Six lakh students in the city will appear for board exams. 1 lakh teachers will be on duty. Conducting board exams can lead to largescale spread of coronavirus... alternative methods of assessment can be explored. Students can be promoted on basis of either online exams or internal assessment. The board exams should be cancelled," he said.
The alarming surge in cases across the country has led to demands by political leaders and parents' bodies to cancel the board exams. On Sunday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to re-think holding the exams.
India recorded 1.61 lakh cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 1.36 crore cases. On Monday, the country recorded 1.68 lakh Covid cases in a day - the biggest-ever surge in a day.
Delhi too is trying hard to contain the spread of virus. On Sunday, the city recorded over 10,000 cases; more than 11,000 cases were reported yesterday.
Amid a worrying surge, the AAP government on Monday said 14 private hospitals in Delhi have been made "full COVID-19" hospitals and asked them not to admit patients other than those infected with coronavirus. "I urge everyone to cooperate in this regard," Mr Kejriwal said today.
Eighty-two private hospitals have been asked to keep 60 per cent of their ICU beds for Covid patients, according to the order.
"Also, we are requesting doctors and patients to ensure treatment at homes for those having less severe symptoms. Please heed the doctors' advise in this regard," the Chief Minister said today.
Delhi is witnessing a huge spike in demand for oxygen cylinders as Covid cases surge. Experts say Delhi's Covid graph is uncomfortably similar to Mumbai's, where oxygen cylinders are in such short supply that the state is forced to ask its neighbours for help.
Arvind Kejriwal also made an appeal to the people in the city to donate plasma for Covid patients. "During the last wave of coronavirus, the people of Delhi came together to donate. In the past months, the dip in cases decreased both the demand and the number of plasma donations. Once again, the daily demand of plasma has increased and there is very less plasma available in stock. I request those citizens of Delhi who have recently recovered from COVID to step forward and donate plasma," he stressed.