COVID-19 community spread a possibility in Delhi, says Jain

New Delhi: Delhi Health minister Satyendra Jain said due to the manner in which patients without symptoms have increased in the national Capital, the possibility of community transmission cannot be ruled out.

Jain stated: "Test results of many people who do not have symptoms like cough, fever or respiratory problems have tested COVID-19 positive."

He added: "While experts can tell better if the community transfer has started, but there are cases in which we are not aware of the source. While it is not being said, it (community spread) is possible. We spoke to the Central government as well. As of now, no community spread has happened in Delhi or in any other part of the county. However, it may spread if people continue to be with the community."

Jain said the Delhi government has received 42,000 rapid testing kits.

"Patients who are asymptomatic will be kept in COVID Care centres," added Jain.

He also said that people who have tested positive for COVID will be kept in COVID hospitals or COVID care centres according to the seriousness of the illness.

In a statement, Satyendra Jain said: "Test reports came for 2,003 persons out of which 110 were COVID-19 positive. Around 1,283 persons out of the total persons who have tested positive are under 50 years of age. There are 320 people between the age of 50 and 60 years. Around 386 patients are above the age of 60."

He also maintained

that rapid tests will be conducted on the basis of the guidelines issued by the Centre and it has already begun in the national Capital.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also touched upon this same context, maintaining that there are patients who are asymptomatic (with no symptoms). Many such people are roaming around freely in Delhi and this could prove very dangerous, all the more because these people won't even realise that they are already infected with the virus.

Stage 3 or local transmission is the community transmission when infections happen in public and the source for the virus cannot be traced.