Delhi logs 12,306 Covid cases, 43 deaths; positivity rate dips to 21%

Number of deaths reported today is highest since June 10 last year

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R Delhi on Thursday reported 12,306 new Covid-19 cases and 43 deaths while the positivity rate dipped to 21.48 per cent. The number of new cases on Wednesday was 13,785 and the positivity rate 23.8 per cent.

The number of deaths reported in the national capital on Thursday is the highest since June 10 last year when 44 people succumbed to the virus. According to government data, 396 people died due to Covid-19 so far in January while the total number of deaths in Delhi climbed to 25,503.

Delhi has been witnessing a steady decline in Covid-19 cases except on Wednesday. The city had recorded 28,867 COVID-19 cases last Thursday, the sharpest single-day spike since the beginning of the pandemic. The number then declined to 24,383 on Friday, 20,718 on Saturday, 18,286 on Sunday, 12,527 on Monday, and 11,684 on Tuesday.

The positivity rate stood at 30.6 per cent on Saturday, the highest in the ongoing wave of the pandemic so far, 27.9 per cent on Sunday, 28 per cent on Monday and 22.5 per cent on Tuesday.

In the last 24 hours, 57,290 Covid tests were conducted in Delhi out of which 43,447 were RT-PCR tests while 13,843 were antigen tests.

Meanwhile, the Union government on Thursday said the deaths are significantly less in the third wave in comparison to the second wave and the current surge is not witnessing increase in severe illness or death following high vaccination uptake.

It said that 94 per cent of India's adults have been administered first dose of Covid vaccine, while 72 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For the 15-18 years age group, the government said 52 per cent have received their first dose of Covid vaccine.