Delhi LG stresses on test, track treat plan to combat uptick in Covid cases

Delhi added 614 cases on Monday, down from 735 a day before, on the back of a significant drop in testing (usually seen on Sundays). The city has added an average of 634 cases each day over the past week, up from 351 in the week ending June 6.

Delhi needs to enhance its Covid-19 testing numbers and improve booster dose coverage, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena said on Monday after a meeting with deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and senior state and civic officials amid a slight, but steady uptick in daily infections in the city.

Monday’s test positivity rate was the highest in 41 days, since 7.64% on May 4 this year. (HT file photo)

“Underlining the need for enhanced testing, coupled with a focus on the test, track, treat and vaccinate strategy to successfully fight the pandemic, the LG also instructed officials to ensure genome sequencing of cases being reported to proactively address any new variant [that may be detected],” an official from the LG’s office said on Monday.

Daily Covid-19 numbers have seen a gradual rise over the past couple of weeks, amid a nationwide increase in cases, driven primarily by Maharashtra and Kerala. To be sure, hospitalisations and deaths have not picked up at the same pace, which experts said is likely because the Omicron variant of the coronavirus — that causes milder infections — continues to make up the vast majority of all infections in Delhi.

Delhi added 614 cases on Monday, down from 735 a day before, on the back of a significant drop in testing (usually seen on Sundays). The city has added an average of 634 cases each day over the past week, up from 351 in the week ending June 6.

The test positivity rate however, shot up to 7.06% on Monday, from 4.35% a day ago, owing largely to the dip in tests. Collected samples on Monday fell to 8,600, from 16,878 on Sunday.

Monday’s test positivity rate was the highest in 41 days, since 7.64% on May 4 this year.

The LG also underlined the importance of boosters to battle the pandemic, even as he lauded Delhi’s strong double-dose vaccination numbers.

“He advised officials to take necessary steps to enhance them through a public outreach program,” the LG’s office said.

Expressing concern over the recent rising trend in the number of infections, the LG directed officials to remain vigilant and not let the guard down in terms of hospital preparedness to tackle any possibility of upsurge in cases. The LG also asked government officials concerned to focus on enforcement and also appeal to the people to adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour.

HT on Monday reported that Delhi government has asked district administrations to restart random tests at public spots, expand the booster vaccination net and focus enforcing mitigation measures like masking and distancing, amid an uptick in Covid-19 infections.

Meanwhile, in a second meeting to review the status of vector-borne diseases, Saxena directed officials to consult experts and epidemiologists to ascertain if a new strain of dengue had evolved so that it could be effectively addressed.

The Capital has, unusually, reported dengue cases even in summer, which is usually an unfavourable time for vector-breeding. This has prompted authorities to revisit their mitigation plans and take action to prevent breeding all year round.

“Officials were directed to enhance their efforts at containing mosquito breeding,” an official from LG office said.

The LG asked the authorities to create a system for digital recording of the houses being inspected for mosquito breeding after the LG was informed that domestic mosquito breeding checkers (DBCs) were manually recording the houses visited and inspection done.