Delhi reports 47 Covid-19 deaths, lowest since November 2

The death toll reported in Saturday’s government health bulletin is the lowest since November 2, when 42 deaths were reported. Delhi saw its third and worst surge in the number of cases and deaths in November.

Delhi recorded 47 deaths due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Saturday, taking the total toll of the infection to 9,981.

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

The death toll reported in Saturday’s government health bulletin is the lowest since November 2, when 42 deaths were reported. Delhi saw its third and worst surge in the number of cases and deaths in November.

“Number of deaths in Delhi are on a decline. Lowest 47 deaths since 2nd Nov. I Request you all to observe all precautions for this trend to decline further,” tweeted Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain.

According to the bulletin, of the 73,413 tests conducted, 32,578 (44.3%) 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.

A total of 1,935 fresh cases were reported on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the city to 605,470. Jain said the average number of cases reported daily is also declining.

“7 days average per day cases now are 2275 one month ago this was 7196. Cases are continually on a decline for a month in Delhi,” the minister tweeted.

The dip in cases has also led to a decline in the number of hospitalisations. On Friday, there were 4,631 patients admitted to hospitals, 24% of the total beds earmarked for the treatment of Covid-19 were occupied, as were 44.3% of the intensive care unit (ICU) beds, according to the Delhi Corona app.

“Bed occupancy for Covid-19 patients in Delhi hospitals is continuously reducing. Today, over 75% of beds reserved for treatment of Covid-19 are vacant. The number of vacant ICU beds has also increased,” said Jain in a press briefing.