Situation in Delhi worsening every moment, Centre’s help sought: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said around 25,500 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Delhi and the positivity rate has increased to nearly 30 per cent in the last 24 hours.

He also said that the Delhi government has sought the Centre's help in ensuring adequate beds and supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients.

Less than 100 ICU beds are vacant in Delhi hospitals, and the situation is worsening every moment, Kejriwal said, adding that he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah this morning and stressed on the need for making more beds available.

"We are constantly in touch with the Centre and getting help from it," he said.

The chief minister said due to the fast pace of increasing COVID-19 infections, hospital beds and oxygen for patients are depleting fast in the city.

The Centre should reserve at least 7,000 of 10,000 beds in hospitals run by it in Delhi as COVID beds and ensure immediate supply of oxygen, he said.

The Delhi government in next 2-3 days will come up with 6,000 beds at Yamuna Sports Complex, Radha Swami Satsang Beas premises and schools. It is also arranging high flow oxygen beds for the patients, Kejriwal added.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain too warned that the situation was critical on the Covid-19 front in the national capital. He, however, said there was no need to panic yet as there were several potential solutions to handle the situation.

Speaking at the NDTV Solutions Summit, he said the number of fresh cases coming in daily now is as much as the cumulative figure for months together. Sections of populations that escaped the last time, he said, are now being hit. Delhi is conducting one lakh tests a day, the minister said.

"The positivity rate is very high now. The numbers are increasing. It is unprecedented. It was difficult to imagine these numbers. Yesterday, Delhi had 24,375 new cases. Today, too, such a number is expected," he told NDTV.

"There are 3-4 solutions. Look, in Delhi, we have increased the number of beds from 6,000 to 17,000 over the past few days. The expansion had been quick, although occupancy remains too high despite that," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a cabinet meeting today amid a huge surge in Covid cases.

On Saturday, Delhi had recorded the biggest jump in its daily COVID-19 tally with 24,375 fresh cases, and 167 people died due to the disease, while the positivity rate had shot up to 24.56 per cent -- meaning every fourth sample being tested in the city is turning out to be positive.

A day ago, 19,486 COVID-19 cases and 141 related deaths were reported in the city.

Amid the escalating coronavirus cases, Kejriwal on Saturday had said said that the pandemic situation in the city has become "very serious and worrisome", with oxygen stock, and Remdesivir and Tocilizumab drugs for patients in short supply.

He said the number of beds are also running out fast and the Delhi government is trying to escalate beds on a large scale in the coming days.

He said nobody knows when the peak of the current wave will come and therefore, it was needed to be fully prepared to deal with the emerging situation.

If the COVID-19 situation becomes more serious, the Delhi government will take all the steps needed to prevent loss of lives, the chief minister had said, indicating more restrictions in the coming days.

With the fresh cases, the national capital's cumulative tally on Saturday had risen to 8,27,998. The death toll stood at 11,960, according to the health bulletin. A total of 99,230 tests, including 69,206 RT-PCR tests and 30,024 rapid antigen tests, were conducted the previous day, the bulletin said.