Lockdown led to fall in COVID-19 cases in Delhi: Experts
Delhi on Friday recorded 8,506 COVID-19 cases, the daily count dipping to below the 10,000-mark again after a month, with medical experts believing the lockdown to be the main factor behind the dip amid the second wave of the pandemic. The national capital had registered 7,897 coronavirus cases on April 10 with 39 deaths, as per official data.
Even over 8,500 daily cases a huge figure: Experts
On Friday, the fatality count stood at 289, with experts cautioning that even over 8,500 daily cases were "still a huge figure" and "severity of cases was still the same as before." Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the city's COVID-19 cases count in the last 24 hours was over 8,500 which was much lower than the figures reported on April 20.
No room for complacency: Medical Director
"Lockdown, I would say is the biggest factor in arriving at a situation where we are now when daily cases from 28,000 have come down to about 8,500," Medical Director of Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), BL Sherwal said. However, it is still a huge figure, and there should be no room for complacency on any front, he added.
Number of daily fatalities at RGSSH stands at 10-12
RGSSH is a Delhi government-run hospital with a 650-bed facility, and about 500 beds are earmarked for treating COVID-19 patients, and 350 are currently occupied, most of them being ICU patients, he said. Asked about the number of daily fatalities at the facility located in east Delhi, Sherwal said, about 10-12 patients per day, out of the 350 beds occupied as of now.
Many patients are brought dead or die shortly: Sherwal
"While daily cases have come down, the severity of infection is still the same, and new patients are being brought to our hospital in the same condition as before," Sherwal said. "Many of them are brought dead or die shortly after being brought to the emergency ward. So, we must understand the gravity of the situation," he added.
Highest single-day spike before third wave was 8,593 in November
Delhi had been reeling under a brutal second wave that is sweeping the country, claiming a massive number of lives daily, with the recent oxygen supply shortage issue adding to the woes. On Thursday, the city had recorded 10,489 cases. The highest single-day spike in Delhi till the third wave of the pandemic -- 8,593 cases -- was reported on November 11 in 2020.
Lockdown was first imposed on April 19 this year
The lockdown first imposed this year, on April 19 amid a steep rise in COVID-19 cases, has been extended thrice so far. On May 9, it was extended by another week by the chief minister till May 17 morning.
