New Delhi: The national capital recorded 4,906 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday and a positivity rate of 7.64 per cent, while 68 more fatalities took the death toll to 9,066, authorities said. This is the second consecutive day that the number of deaths has remained below 5,000 and the positivity rate below eight per cent.
At 68, the number of deaths was lowest since November 6, when the city recorded 64 fatalities. The positivity rate was 7.24 per cent on Saturday, the lowest since October 23.
It was 8.51 per cent on Friday, 8.65 per cent on Thursday and 8.49 per cent on Wednesday.
A total of 64,186 tests, including 29,839 RT-PCR ones and 34,347 rapid antigen tests, were conducted the previous day for detection of COVID-19, according to a bulletin by the Delhi health department on Sunday. A record 69,051 tests, including 33,147 RT-PCR ones — the highest till date — were conducted on Friday.
According to the bulletin, the total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 5,66,648 on Sunday, of which 5,22,491 have recovered.
The tally of active cases in Delhi was 35,091 on Sunday, down from 36,578 on Saturday.
Delhi recorded 4,454 new cases on Monday, 6,224 on Tuesday, 5,246 on Wednesday and 5,475 on Thursday, 5,482 on Friday and 4,998 on Saturday.
The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi rose to 5,441 on Sunday from 5,331 on Saturday. Of the total number of 18,661 beds in COVID-19 hospitals, 10,418 are vacant, according to official data.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has increased the number of ICU beds to 500 in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Covid Hospital at Delhi Cantonment, an official statement said on Sunday. The hospital was made operational on July 5 by the DRDO to treat COVID-19 patients from Delhi and other states. It has a total of 1,000 beds.
The statement said 3,271 patients were admitted to the hospital so far, out of which 2,796 have been cured/discharged. At present, 434 patients are undergoing treatment in the hospital out of which 356 are civilians and 78 are service personnel, it said.
"The DRDO has increased the number of ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds to 500 in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Covid Hospital at Delhi Cantonment on the advice of the Union Government in view of the rising number of cases in Delhi-NCR. All the beds are provided with oxygen support," the statement said.