628 new Covid-19 infections in Delhi, cases are plateauing, say officials

Senior officials of the health department said current trends are showing that cases have plateaued in Delhi, but a comparison of cases over the past two days would be difficult as the government did not release the Covid infection data on Sunday.

The national capital on Monday recorded 628 new Covid-19 infections, even as testing remained low, the government’s daily health bulletin showed.

According to the bulletin, of the 7,793 tests conducted on Monday, 8.06% samples returned positive for Covid.

According to the bulletin, of the 7,793 tests conducted on Monday, 8.06% samples returned positive for Covid.

Senior officials of the health department said current trends are showing that cases have plateaued in Delhi, but a comparison of cases over the past two days would be difficult as the government did not release the Covid infection data on Sunday.

On Saturday, the data was available for only 12.59 hours of June 24, and, as per that partial data, 666 Covid infections were recorded in the city, after conducting 8,544 tests to derive a positivity rate of 7.80%.

On Monday, three people died of Covid infection as opposed six people on Saturday. According to Monday’s daily bulletin, the active cases in the national capital have reached 4,553.

“The positivity rate had touched 10% early last week but it seems that the infection numbers have plateaued since then. This could be indicative of cases decreasing in the coming days. But we have to wait and watch,” said a senior health department official, asking not to be named.

Hospital admissions continued to remain low, with only 299 (3.14%) of 9,497 beds at Covid hospitals being occupied as on Monday, leaving 9198 (96.85%) beds vacant.

Another 3,636 patients are also recovering in home isolation and the government has set up 389 containment zones across the city.

Dr Satish Koul, director (internal medicine) Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said, “Infections continue to be mild and people are not requiring hospital admissions. Most patients coming to our OPD (outpatient department) are only requiring routine medication and no hospitalisation. Only those with critical comorbidities may need care.”