COVID-19: Delhi records 5,062 new cases, death toll climbs to 6,511; positivity rate 11.42 per cent

national capital recorded 5,062 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking infection tally to over 3.86 lakh, even as positivity rate jumped to nearly 11.5 per cent amid festivities and rising pollution in city.

se fresh cases came out of 44,330 tests conducted previous day which also coincided with a festival.

This is fourth consecutive day when over 5,000 cases have been reported in a day in city.

highest single-day spike till date -- 5,891 cases -- was recorded on Friday.

On Saturday, 41 new fatalities were recorded, pushing death toll in national capital to 6,511, according to latest bulletin issued by Delhi health department.

tally of active cases on Saturday rose to 32,719 from 32,363 previous day, as per bulletin.

bulletin said total number of cases has climbed to 3,86,706 and positivity rate stood at 11.42 per cent.

After a long time, positivity rate here has crossed 10 per cent-mark.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said it is "impossible to wipe off" COVID-19 transmission through a lockdown as virus has "spre through community" and people should treat wearing a face mask as a vaccine till real medication is me available.

number of containment zones in Delhi increased to 3,274 from 3,113 on Friday.

sudden spike in cases comes amid festive season and rising pollution levels. While Durga Puja celebrations ended on October 25, next festival is Diwali and Chhath in vember.

National Centre for Disease Control in a report drafted recently h warned that Delhi needs to be prepared for about 15,000 fresh cases of COVID-19 per day taking into account upcoming winter season-related respiratory problems, large influx of patients from outside and festive garings.

Meanwhile, Delhi health secretary held a review meeting with all medical directors and medical superintendents on COVID-19 manment, bulletin said.

recovery rate on Saturday was over 89 per cent, it said.

According to Saturday bulletin, out of total number of 15,764 beds in COVID hospitals, 9,505 are vacant.

It said 462 beds in COVID care centres are occupied by persons under quarantine, including travellers who have returned by Vande Bharat Mission and bubble flights.

Jain told reporters that out of 2,900 ICU beds, 1,200 are available.

Asked about a report over occupancy rms for DTC buses, he said only as many passengers are allowed as re are seats.

Delhi government has significantly ramped up testing in past few days, with count on several times crossing 60,000-mark.

number of Rapid Antigen Tests conducted on Friday stood at 28,906 while RT-PCR, CBNAAT and True NAAT tests figures were 15,424, in all ding to 44,330, according to bulletin.

number of tests done per million, as on Friday, was over 2.46 lakh while total number of tests stood at over 46.8 lakh.

bulletin said 3,47,476 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far.

Since September, daily cases h begun to rise in city. From last week of September, it h stated to come down a bit.

number of people in home isolation rose to 20,093 compared to 19,064 previous day.