Active Covid-19 cases down to 20,000, lowest in 2 months

According to the government’s health bulletin on Wednesday, there were 20,546 active cases in Delhi, which is the lowest in almost two months.

With fewer cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) being reported over the last 10 days in the city, the number of active cases (those still infected) has reduced to just over 20,000.

A health care worker in PPE kit collects swab sample from travellers at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) for coronavirus screening, in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

According to the government’s health bulletin on Wednesday, there were 20,546 active cases in Delhi, which is the lowest in almost two months.

Of the 72,079 tests conducted, 32,976 (45.7%) were done using the RT-PCR method — the gold standard for coronavirus diagnosis. Experts have warned that if the RT-PCR tests slacken, it could catch the Capital off guard if the outbreak begins resurging.

There were 6,460 containment zones in the capital, according to the bulletin.

The city reported 2,463 new cases and 50 deaths due to the viral infection. So far, Covid-19 has affected over 599,000 people and killed 9,813 in Delhi.

With fewer active cases, the pressure on the city hospitals has gone down. “It is heartening to see that Delhi is emerging victorious in the battle against the virus. First time Delhi has witnessed more than 13000 vacant covid beds in hospitals. Now the effect of the pandemic is on the decline,” said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain in a tweet.

Meanwhile, 5,417 people are still admitted to hospitals in the city, as per Wednesday’s bulletin.

The positivity rate—the proportion of samples that test positive—is also showing a decline. According to Wednesday’s bulletin, it was 3.42%, marking a week of the positivity rate staying below 5%. Experts believe that the spread of the infection is under control when a positivity rate of 5% or less is maintained for two weeks.

“It is a very positive sign; however the government must continue to conduct as many tests as possible. No one can say for certain if there ill be another surge—for one, it is linked to the behaviour of the community which is not easy to predict,” said Dr Lalit Kant, former head of the department of epidemiology and infectious diseases at ICMR.