Delhi reports highest new cases in 5 days; positivity rate at 5.57 pc

New Delhi: Delhi on Wednesday reported the highest number of fresh coronavirus cases in the last five days. 2,871 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative tally to 2,98,107. The number of new cases reported came out of 51,505 tests conducted on the previous day. 

In the last six days, the new cases have been in the range on 2,000-3,000 on five occasions. Delhi recorded 2,676 fresh cases on Tuesday, 1,947 on Monday, 2,683 on Sunday, 2,258 on Saturday, 2,920 on Friday, 3,037 on Thursday and 3,390 on Wednesday.

51,505 tests were conducted, of which 9,059 were RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 42,446 were rapid antigen tests. The positivity rate increased to 5.57 per cent from 4.99 per cent on the previous day. 53,591 tests were conducted on Monday, 35,593 on Sunday, 50,832 on Saturday, 39,306 on Friday, 56,258 on Thursday, 55,423 on Wednesday and 59,807 on Tuesday.

As per the recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the positivity rate should be below 5 per cent for a period of at least two weeks in a region which has a comprehensive testing programme to claim that the outbreak is under control. The positivity rate had dipped below 5 per cent a day before. 

35 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll has now reached 5,616. 39 deaths were reported on Tuesday, 32 on Monday, 38 on Sunday, 34 on Saturday, 37 on Friday, 40 on Thursday and 41 on Wednesday. 

On the other hand, Delhi reported more than 3,000 recoveries in the last 24 hours. 3,370 patients recovered from the deadly disease, taking the total recovery figure to 2,70,305 in the national capital. The recovery rate increased to 90.67 from 90.41 per cent on the previous day.

The recoveries outnumbered the new cases on Wednesday. It affected the active cases positively. Active cases declined by 534 in the city. Delhi has now 22,186 active cases. The active cases have come down in the last few days after crossing the 30,000 mark during the last upsurge in cases. 

Out of the 15,830 beds in Covid hospitals, 10,443 beds were lying vacant. The number of people in home isolation dropped to 12,691 on Wednesday from 13,178 on Tuesday.