40 cases of new Covid strain reported in Delhi, all admitted to LNJP

New Delhi : Alongside further 494 new covid cases, 13 new deaths have been reported in the national capital in the last 24 hours.

Forty new cases of new covid variant, potentially more transmissible than the previous variant, have been reported here. All these patients are receiving care at LNJP hospital here.

Most of the 40 patients are either UK returnees or came in contact with those returned from UK where the new covid variant is blamed for huge caseload.

Delhi's Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday put the positivity rate in Delhi at 0.73 per cent, which according to him is steadily declining after reporting 585 new cases on Friday.

"We hope that the number of new cases in Delhi remain below 500," he added.

This is first time in several months Delhi recorded below 500 cases of covid 19. Authorities however requested people to wear mask and maintain social distance.

Jain said, "Despite reducing the availability of beds in the hospitals, 10,500 to 11,000 beds are still vacant. As of now, only 2,000 beds are occupied. As far as new strain is concerned, 40 cases have been traced in Delhi and patients have been admitted to LNJP hospital."

The Delhi government has also authorised four private hospitals to treat patients with new Covid strain.

Delhi's Health Minister said that 'we understand the seriousness of the situation and are fully prepared to tackle it'.

He also said medicines, treatment and covid 19 vaccine will be made free of cost to people of Delhi.

A dry run was conducted on Saturday at Venkateswara Hospital, GTB Hospital and Daryaganj dispensary.

Delhi government has prepared to vaccinate around one lakh people a day. The health workers will be given the vaccine on priority while around 51 lakh people will be vaccinated in the first phase.

All vaccine centers have been linked with hospitals so that if there are any side effects of the vaccine, the patient can be immediately treated.

IANS report with edits