Delhi COVID Cases Are Rapidly Rising As People Flout Social Distancing Rules, Flock To Markets

Delhi recorded its highest single-day spike of 6,725 new coronavirus cases on November 3 and its total count of cases crossed the 4,00,000 mark. India has reported 46,253 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. The total caseload now stands at 8,313,876.

On November 3, the single-day cases stood at 4,001 and the tally rose to over 6,700 in just 24 hours.?

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Notably, Delhi's cases crossed the first-lakh mark in 125 days, two-lakh mark in 66 days and from two, went to four lakh in just 55 days.?

What led to the spike?

Huge crowds were witnessed flocking to the city’s markets with little or no regard for masks and social distancing norms on Sunday. This when Delhi?reported more than 5,000 daily cases for five consecutive days from 28 October to 1 November. Government data revealed that more than 96,000?were added between 1 October and 29 October.?

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Despite the pandemic and a constant threat,?a heavy footfall was seen in Delhi's Sadar Bazaar on Monday too, amid the festive season.?Speaking to ANI, Srishti, one of the customers, said, "Yes, it is risky but what can we do? Life has to go on normally. It is very crowded. We are scared but we have to go about our daily chores. How long can one sit at home?"

ANI

A large number of people were seen flouting social distancing norms here while some of them were roaming without a mask.?However, police personnel also ensured that COVID-19 protocols are being followed.

"I have come here ahead of Diwali but till when can one sit at home? We have to step out for work. We are following social distancing," said Manj, another customer.

While the festival is almost two weeks away, Delhi’s popular market hubs Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar too have seen crowds almost equal to pre-Covid times in the past few days.??

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The arrival of pollution season poses a double threat, putting people at higher risk of severe infection, while increasing the strain on public health services. Experts believe there are chances that the deteriorating air could serve as a double blow for the capital.

Why the risk is threatening?

The availability of Covid ICU beds with ventilators at 39 private and a Central government-run hospital in the national capital has gone nil amid the massive surge in the coronavirus cases in the last few days, according to official data.

This reflects in the 100 per cent occupancy of ICU beds with ventilators in Delhi's biggest and most prestigious private hospitals. Meanwhile, very few are available in the national capital's government hospitals.?

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According to health experts, the crowds in Delhi's markets too could invariably lead to a spike in cases in Delhi and the chance of ‘super-spread’ is also high in these areas.??

The National Centre for Disease Control in a report drafted recently had warned that Delhi needs to be prepared for about 15,000 fresh cases of COVID-19 per day taking into account the upcoming winter season-related respiratory problems, large influx of patients from outside and festive gatherings.??

What is the government doing?

Officials are now scrambling to respond to both dangers COVID and pollution; in Delhi, Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has announced a "battle against pollution."

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"Especially this year with corona, for our children, for our families, we have to reduce pollution," he said on October 5. "(The) lungs are the most affected by corona, so pollution can be life-taking in such a disease."

The district officials also said that although no specific directions have been received by them, they are already carrying out intensive testing and enforcement drives for COVID-19 appropriate behavior in the city.

"The revised strategy to deal with spurt in COVID-19 cases, has emphasised on focused testing, raising RT-PCR tests and mass awareness to encourage people to wear masks, maintain social distance," said a district magistrate on the condition of anonymity.