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Thursday's positivity rate in Delhi is the highest since May 3 last year when India was battling the second wave and hospitals across the country were struggling to arrange beds and medical oxygen for patients.
In the last 24 hours, the national capital reported 31 deaths. Across the city, over 62,000 patients are in home isolation.
Earlier in the day, the country recorded 2.47 lakh fresh cases- the unprecedented surge is driven by Omicron, the new variant that has brought a fresh wave of infections across the world.
Since the start of the pandemic, Delhi has logged over 16.46 lakh cases and more than 25,000 Covid deaths. The death rate this evening stood at 1.53 per cent.
On Wednesday, the city had registered 27,561 Covid cases and 40 deaths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting today to review the coronavirus situation, and said that Omicron is spreading very fast but "there is not need to panic". Vaccination is the only bet to check Covid, he said.
The new variant has led to a spike in infections in many big cities, including Mumbai. The city reported 13,702 cases in the last 24 hours.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said that if the cases in the city stabilise, fresh restrictions which were brought in could be lifted.
He also told NDTV earlier this week that Delhi was expected to see a peak in a few days.
Low hospitalisations in the third wave is the only consolation for the country as the new variant brings back fears of lockdown and other curbs. Today, PM Modi said that any Covid strategy should focus on the economy and livelihoods.
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