NEW DELHI: An “unprecedented situation ” has emerged in Delhi, which could worsen in coming weeks with Covid-19 cases rising to 500 cases per million population from around 361 currently, per a Niti Aayog assessment highlighting violation of Covid norms during the festive season.
In view of a possible surge, the Centre has suggested urgently increasing bed capacity in Delhi, particularly ICU beds to around 6,431, to handle the increase to 500 cases per million. Currently, Delhi has 3,491 ICU beds of which 88% are occupied. The assessment was presented to a gathering convened by home minister Amit Shah and attended by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior central and state officials on Sunday.
Some of the 12 decisions taken have begun to roll out. Doctors and paramedical staff started arriving in Delhi on Monday to spice up manpower at city hospitals treating Covid-19 cases, while 10,000 additional RT-PCR tests are set to strengthen the daily testing capacity starting Tuesday.