Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said Wednesday that there will be no closure in Delhi, but that there are likely to be “local restrictions” in some places. His statement comes a day after Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to the center asking for permission to block the markets if they become hot spots.
Experts have blamed the current increase in the number of cases on people crowding the markets.
This occurs even as Delhi recorded fewer cases over three days due to lower tests during festivals and holidays. The Health Minister, however, claimed that not only is the absolute number of cases decreasing, but the positivity rate, which had peaked at 15.33% during this increase, is also decreasing.
Also read: From more than 3,700 Covid-19 cases to 6,396 in 24 hours: Delhi’s growing numbers explained
“We are still in the third wave of infections, but the peak has been crossed,” the minister had said on Tuesday. So far, the highest number of new cases registered in one day has been 8,593 on November 11. On Tuesday, 6,396 cases were reported with just over 49,000 tests, according to the daily health bulletin published by the Delhi government. On average, 54,000 tests were conducted each day before Diwali.
99 deaths were also reported Tuesday, bringing the total death toll due to the infection in the city to 7,812.
The minister has argued that masks are better at preventing the spread of infection than blocking. “The confinement had been an experiment and what we have learned from it is that wearing masks can bring us the same benefits. Scientifically, masks are the best way to stop the virus. The lowest positivity rates are recorded at Covid-19 hospitals because doctors there follow precautions. If everyone follows the precautions, the spread of the infection can be prevented. And, despite the closure, some people still go out and can bring the infection to their families, “he had said Monday.
To control further spread, the city will also focus on a greater number of tests. The number of tests will soon expand from 100,000 to 120,000 per day from the current average of around 54,000. The central government will deploy ten mobile laboratories, 10,000 more tests will be carried out in laboratories of the Ministry of Health and the ICMR, and another 1,000 will be carried out in scientific institutions.
The minister also said that celebrating Chhath Puja could lead to the spread, so restrictions have been imposed. “The virus can spread easily due to the high concentrations during Chhath Puja, hence the restrictions,” he said.
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