Delhi Covid positivity rate close to 20 per cent; new Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 on rise

Even though Delhi reported less than 1,000 Covid-19 cases after a fortnight on Tuesday (August 16), the positivity rate of 19.20 per cent was highest in 200 days. A new Omicron sub-variant BA 2.75, which has been detected in the majority of cases in Delhi, is also a cause of concern.

The national capital on Tuesday recorded 917 new Covid cases and three deaths, taking the total number of cases to 19,86,739 and the death toll to 26,392.

The lower number of cases are due to the lesser number of tests conducted the previous day, that is 4,775.

Delhi has been conducting around 16,000 to 17,000 tests on a daily basis but officials say on Sunday and gazette holidays, people tend to come out less to get tested, reported PTI.

Constant rise in cases: On Monday, Delhi had reported 1,227 cases and 8 deaths. And before that, the national capital had reported more than 2,000 cases daily for 12 consecutive days. Delhi on Sunday reported 2,162 cases with a positivity rate of 12.64 per cent and five fatalities.

On Saturday, it logged nine deaths due to Covid and 2,031 cases with a positivity rate of 12.34 per cent. Delhi had recorded 12 deaths due to Covid on February 13. On Thursday, the city had reported 2,726 fresh cases, the highest in nearly six-and-a-half months.

Positivity rate close to 20 per cent: The positivity rate in Delhi was the highest since January 21, when the city had recorded a positivity rate of 21.48 per cent and 12,306 cases along with 43 deaths.

New variant a cause of concern: According to a report in science journal Nature, the Omicron subvariant called BA.2.75, nicknamed 'Centaurus', is rising fast in India and a few scientists are sounding the alarm, whereas others say it's too early to tell whether the variant will spread widely.

As part of a study, Covid samples of patients at Delhi's LNJP Hospital were analysed and more than half of these samples have been detected with the new sub-variant BA 2.75 of Omicron. The 2,000-bed LNJP Hospital, the largest under the Delhi government, has been the mainstay of the capital's fight against Covid.

'People with booster does safer': Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said people who have taken precautionary dose of vaccines are safer from infection than others.

आज अधिकारियों के साथ दिल्ली में कोरोना के स्थिति की विस्तृत समीक्षा की

वर्तमान में दिल्ली के नए COVID hospitalization cases में से 90% लोगों ने तीसरा डोज नहीं लगवाया है।

ये साफ प्रमाण है कि तीसरे डोज से COVID के खिलाफ बचाव में बहुत मदद मिल रही है.. pic.twitter.com/JsJeuVwDhc

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) August 16, 2022

"99 per cent of Covid-infected patients admitted to the hospital are those who have taken only two doses of the vaccine. At the same time, only 10 per cent of the patients got infected after the third dose of the vaccine," Sisodia said.

'Pandemic not over': Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday said that the pandemic is far from over and appealed to the people to adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour.

"We are witnessing a rise in Covid infections, consistently high positivity and cases of reinfection. It is essential that we realise that the pandemic is far from over. I appeal to all to strictly adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour. We cannot afford to let our guards down," Saxena said in a tweet.

We are witnessing a rise in COVID19 infections, consistently high positivity & cases of reinfection.
It is essential that we realize that the pandemic is far from over.
I appeal to all to strictly adhere to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.
We cannot afford to let our guards down.

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) August 16, 2022

Covid cases in India: A single-day rise of 9,062 cases on Wednesday pushed India's Covid tally to 4,42,86,256, while the death toll climbed to 5,27,134. The active ] cases in the country have declined to 1,05,058 from 1,11,252.

#Unite2FightCorona

➡️ 9,062 New Cases reported in last 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/cQgLT4SMmE

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) August 17, 2022