Delhi Adds 366 New COVID Cases In 24 Hours, Almost One In Three Hospitalisations Are Kids
For the first time since March, Delhi added more than 300 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours for two successive days.
In the past 24 hours on Friday, Delhi added 366 new COVID-19 infections, taking the tally so far to 18,67,572.
On Thursday, the city had reported 325 new COVID-19 cases, the first time since March 3, when the daily cases breached 300.
Numbers that speak
Delhi has seen over two-fold rise in new infections in the last one week, as per the health bulletin released by the Delhi government.
The daily caseload has been on the rise for the last few days with the positivity rate also jumping from 1.34 per cent on April 4 to 3.95 per cent on Friday.?
On April 9, a total of 160 cases were recorded at a positivity rate of 1.55 per cent. The caseload dipped slightly on April 10 to 141, before rising again from Monday.
On April 12, the city reported 202 cases at a positivity rate 1.71 per cent, which went up to 299 cases at 2.49 per cent on April 13.
The number of home isolation cases has shown an upward trend in the last one week.
As per the health bulletin, the number of home isolation cases rose to 685 on Friday from 574 on Thursday.
The figures of home isolation cases stood at 574 on April 14, 504 on April 13, 474 on April 12 and 447 on April 11.
Cases among children concerning
While there is no alarming spike in cases yet, there are some growing concerns.
Delhi has currently 51 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, real-time data by the Delhi government has shown. Of these, at least 14 (27%) are children ¡ª 12 in Kalawati Saran Children¡¯s hospital (KSCH) and one each in Indraprastha Apollo and Madhukar Rainbow Children¡¯s hospital (MRCH).
However, according to a Times of India report, most children who have been admitted to hospitals have other underlying illnesses.
There is also an increase in the number of school students testing positive for COVID-19 in Delhi and adjoining areas.
No need to shut schools??
Paediatric Gastroenterologist at Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Dr Smita Malhotra said that there is no need to shut schools because teachers and students are testing COVID-19 positive, and emphasised on taking precautionary measures instead.
"There is no need at all for shutting down schools because schooling is a very important aspect of growth for children and not just educational growth, growth on other parameters like emotional, psychological, even physical aspects. So definitely, as of now, there is no indication for closure of schools," the Senior Consultant said.
"Standard precautions which are there for others; frequent hand washing and good ventilation should be ensured in schools. Ensure proper screening. If you think any child has even minor symptoms, then ask that child to stay at home for a few days or get tested," she added.
Close specific wings
The Delhi government had on Friday asked school authorities to close specific wings or classrooms wherever needed, if students test positive for COVID-19.
A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has been called on April 20 to review the situation in the national capital.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) issued a fresh advisory for schools in the national capital on April 13, directing them to close the entire premises or specific wings temporarily if any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19.
The department also said students and staff must wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Delhi reported 325 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, while the positivity rate stood at 2.39 per cent, according to data shared by the city's health department.
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