New Delhi:
Compared to the previous peak of 2 to 3 per cent reported in November, the current COVID fatality rate in the national capital stands at 0.4 per cent, said Delhi Health Minister, Satyendar Jain on Thursday. This time, the coronavirus is spreading ‘exponentially’ but the severity of the virus is ‘less’, and so are the fatalities, the minister added.
Addressing the press conference, he asserted that the Kejriwal-led government has made two more requests to the Centre: the vaccination should be allowed for everyone, at least adults; the second one is to allow vaccination camps in communities unlike the existing method of the jabs being inoculated in healthcare facilities only.
Jain said, “Delhi reported 5,506 positive cases on Wednesday, the positivity rate was nearly above 6%, and 90,000 covid tests were conducted.”
He said, “Yesterday (Wednesday), India reported 1,25,000 cases, as opposed to the earlier peaks in which the highest count was lodged at 99,000. This means that this peak is more infectious, and the number of cases is higher than the previous ones.”
“The positivity rate in Delhi is nearly above 6%, while in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, it has been around 25% and 18% respectively. In many other states, the positivity rate is above 10%,” he asserted.
Responding to the queries surrounding the vaccination drive in Delhi, Jain said, “The vaccination drive is going well in Delhi, we have received some vials yesterday. The vaccination stock is available for 4-5 days with us. We will be receiving it continuously as per our demand. I believe we should fight against the coronavirus altogether. The issue is not that the vaccination in Delhi Government hospital is 75% and 30% in Central Government hospitals, the issue is that how effective we vaccinate more people as soon as possible. Since everybody above the age of 45 has been permitted to take the vaccine, people in large numbers should come up and get inoculated.”
