If Covid cases in Delhi come down in the next two to three days, restrictions will be lifted, minister Satyendar Jain said today.
Delhi is likely to report around 25,000 cases in the last 24 hours, the minister said, adding that positivity rate cannot determine whether cases have peaked.
The positivity rate in the city has crossed 25 per cent and is at the highest level in seven months.
But Mr Jain said coronavirus cases have stabilised in Delhi and there is a possibility of infections declining soon. "Hospitalisation rate has stabilised and cases have plateaued. There are still several beds vacant," he told reporters.
Cases in Mumbai have started declining, he pointed out. "We will soon see the same trend in Delhi," he added.
On Tuesday, private offices in Delhi were ordered to shut down and get employees to Work From Home. Offices linked to essential services are exceptions to the rule. Restaurants and bars in the city have also been shut down; only takeaway is allowed. A night curfew has been in place since last month.
Delhi has reported between 20,000 and 22,000 cases over the past few days.
On Tuesday, Delhi recorded 23 deaths. It has already reported 93 deaths in the New Year, compared to 54 in the last five months.
"People with comorbidities are facing more problems, not many people are coming to hospital for treatment of coronavirus," Mr Jain explained.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said the speed of virus spread had slowed down in Delhi.
"Covid cases are rapidly rising throughout the country. Delhi too is witnessing a rise but we have noticed that the speed of the spread of the virus has slowed down. I hope that this trend will continue and the Covid spread will come down," Mr Kejriwal said.
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