New Delhi: Delhi recorded 1,017 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, while the positivity rate rose to 32.25 per cent, the highest in 15 months, according to data shared by the city government’s health department. The capital had recorded a positivity rate of 30.6 per cent on January 14 last year. With the new cases, Delhi’s Covid-19 tally climbed to 20,24,244. The health department’s bulletin said that four fresh deaths have raised the death toll to 26,567.
Covid-19 | In the last 24 hours, 1017 new cases have been reported in Delhi. The positivity rate is 32.25%. Two deaths were reported where the primary cause is Covid. pic.twitter.com/PkG9SLF2Lo– ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2023
Of the latest fatalities, Covid-19 was the primary cause of death in two cases, it said. The fresh cases came out of 3,153 tests conducted the previous day, according to the bulletin.
On Sunday, Delhi registered 1,634 Covid-19 cases with a positivity rate of 29.68 per cent and three deaths. On Saturday, the city recorded 1,396 Covid-19 cases with a positivity rate of 31.9 per cent.
India recorded 9,111 new cases since Monday, a slight decline
Meanwhile, India has reported 9,111 new Covid cases and 6,313 recoveries in the last 24 hours, while the number of active cases now stands at 60,313, according to the daily health bulletin released by the Union Health Ministry on Monday.
The active cases constitute 0.13 per cent of the total cases reported in the country. Today’s reported cases are less than yesterday when it recorded 10,093 Covid cases. Active cases also increased from 57,542 to 69,313 on Monday. The total number of Covid vaccine doses given in the country under the nationwide vaccination drive is 220.66 crore, with 198 doses given in the last 24 hours.
After 6,313 recoveries in the last 24 hours, India’s total recoveries rise to 4,42,35,772, taking the recovery rate to 98.68 per cent.
27 deaths in 24 hours
As per the bulletin uploaded at 8 am today, a total of 27 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours. Six deaths have been confirmed in Gujarat, four in Uttar Pradesh, three each in Delhi and Rajasthan, two in Maharashtra, one each in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and three in Kerala.
The daily positivity rate in the country is now 8.40 per cent and the weekly positivity rate is 4.94 per cent. The daily health bulletin said 1,08,436 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking India’s total Covid tests to 92.41 crore.
Today’s reported cases are less than yesterday when it recorded 10,093 Covid cases. Active cases also increased from 57,542 to 69,313 on Monday.
XBB1.16 variant able to evade immune system: experts
Amid the recent spurt in Covid cases, medical experts have warned that the new XBB1.16 variant is capable of evading people’s immune system and the coming four weeks are crucial. Former Delhi AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said on Saturday that there is no panic situation as the country is witnessing a fresh spurt in Covid-19 infections.
Guleria said, “Covid-19 cases are increasing across the country. But most of the infections are mild. The hospitalization rate has also not increased. It is not a panic-like situation yet.”