Covid claims 21 lives in single day, fresh infections surge past 11,000 mark

The daily death toll due to Covid-19 in the country has touched a 6-month high of 21 as the number of fresh single-day infections has crossed the 11,000 mark.

The total number of active coronavirus cases in the country has now surpassed 50,000.

The latest figures compiled by the Union Ministry of Health show that 6 people died in Delhi while Maharashtra reported four deaths due to Covid-19 on Thursday. There were also three deaths reported from Rajasthan while 8 states reported one death each.

While Delhi recorded 1,527 fresh cases of Covid-19 the positivity rate, which shows the number of confirmed Covid cases in a sample of 100 people tested, has jumped to 28 per cent.

The Delhi government is expected to issue Covid guidelines for schools amid the sharp increase in cases in recent weeks.

Delhi education minister Atishi said Thursday, “Our government is reviewing the COVID situation and guidelines will be issued to all the schools in this regard very soon.”

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi has issued an advisory for its staff to follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour as four doctors and several staffers have tested positive for the infection.

Health department officials said the new Omicron train is responsible for the fast spread but the severity is low. At present, only about 3 per cent of the hospital beds set aside for Covid patients are occupied.

Though the admission rate in hospitals for Covid infections remains low, the number of people requiring medical attention has gone up sharply. Doctors have also advised that patients undergoing treatment at home must check their oxygen level as cases of low oxygen have been found after 4 to 5 days of the onset of the disease.