CM Arvind Kejriwal Says Delhi Facing Third Wave Of Coronavirus

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the city has seen a jump in the number of new Covid-19 cases in the last few days and it can be called a "third wave".

Kejriwal said people do not need to panic and the government was monitoring the situation regularly.

"Delhi has witnessed a jump in the number of Covid-19 cases. I think we can call it the third wave," he told reporters.

"We have been observing the circumstance persistently and there is no compelling reason to freeze. We will make whatever strides are required," the main minister said. 

The government's need is to give the best treatment and medical services offices to Covid-19 patients in Delhi and to keep the passing rate as low as could be expected under the circumstances, he said. 

The central minister said there was no lack of beds for Covid patients in the



city. 

"Notwithstanding, there is a shortage of ICU beds in some huge, private clinics. Yet, we are attempting to fix things," he said.

"The Delhi government had increased their numbers (ICU beds in private hospitals) but unfortunately, the Delhi High Court stayed our decision. We are moving the Supreme Court today to urge it to vacate the stay," Kejriwal said.

Delhi recorded over 6,700 fresh Covid-19 cases for the first time on Tuesday, taking the infection tally in the city to over 4 lakh, even as the positivity rate stood at 11.29 per cent amid festive season and rising pollution in the city. The previous highest single-day spike till date here - 5,891 cases - was recorded on Friday.

The 6,725 fresh cases came out of the 59,540 tests conducted the previous day.

Forty-eight new fatalities were recorded, pushing the death toll in the national capital to 6,652, according to the bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.