COVID-19:Recovery rate rises to over 90 pc; Processions during Ganesh Chaturthi, Muharram prohibited

recovery rate from COVID-19 in Delhi improved to more than 90 per cent on Sunday while 652 fresh cases were recorded, even as state disaster manment authority has prohibited pandals and processions on religious occasions due to coronavirus pandemic.

As many as 1,310 recoveries were reported in last 24 hours. death toll due to disease increased to 4,196 with eight more fatalities during period. This is second time in a week that daily number of deaths has dropped below 10, according to Delhi government's health bulletins.

On August 11, Delhi h recorded eight COVID-19 deaths. national capital recorded 14 deaths each on Wednesday and Thursday, 11 on Friday and 10 on Saturday.

number of fresh cases (652) on Sunday is lowest after July 27, when Delhi recorded 613 cases. number of recoveries (1,310) on Sunday is also highest since July 27, when 1,497 patients recovered from virus.

city has so far recorded a total of 1,52,580 cases, of which 1,37, 561 have recovered or been discharged -- a recovery rate of 90.15 per cent. re are 10,823 active cases, of which 5,762 are under home isolation.

As many as 3,024 RTPCR, CBNAAT and TrueNat tests and 7,685 rapid-antigen tests were conducted. A total of 13,02,120 tests have been conducted till date -- 68,532 tests per million population, it said.

positivity rate in last 24 hours stood at 6.08 per cent. In last one week, number of new infections has grown by less than one per cent everyday.

In an order issued on August 14 to all district magistrates, DCPs and or authorities concerned, Delhi Disaster Manment Authority said that people will be encourd to celebrate festivals at ir homes in city.

Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said all DMs and district commissioners of police will hold meetings with religious leers before any festival that has possibility of a large garing to get ir cooperation to maintain law and order, harmony and also to sensitise people to comply with guidelines.

Dev, who is also chairman of DDMA's state executive committee, said it should be ensured that crowd does t gar in any religious or social places.

"During Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, idol of Lord Ganesha shall be set up in tent/pandal/ public place, r any kind of permission shall be granted for procession... similarly, permission shall be granted for procession/tajiya during Moharram," order stated.

Sufficient police force will be deployed in all communally sensitive areas and containment zones across city, it said.

chief secretary directed officials to make all necessary arrangements for checking at all public places, bus stands, railway stations, sensitive and religious places before any festival.

Due arrangements should be me for deployment of dog squs, anti-terrorist squs and bomb disposal teams for intensive search and checking at religious and public places as per requirement, it stated.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal turned 52 on Sunday and visited Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place along with his wife and prayed for good health of Delhiities amid coronavirus pandemic.

AAP national convener, while dressing party volunteers on Independence Day on Saturday, h said he would t celebrate his birthday and urged m to send ir wishes from home.

re were festivities at chief minister's residence in rth Delhi's Civil Lines area, unlike previous years when he was visited by his party leers, workers and mirers.

"Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Hanuman temple and worshipped deity and performed Abhisheka. He prayed for good health of Delhi people," CM office's office tweeted with pictures of Kejriwal and his wife Sunita at temple.

In a tweet, Kejriwal on Sunday said Aam Ami Party will set up centres for testing saturation of oxygen content in blood in 30,000 vills across country.

Kejriwal said he has alrey received a commitment for 30,000 oximeters.

"Alrey received commitments for 30,000 oxymeters. Am overwhelmed. Will w set up 'oxygen jaanch kendra' in 30,000 vills. Commitments still pouring in. Will help set it up in more vills. Thank you dors. We will train vill youth and give m oxymeters to set up oxy kendras," he said in a tweet.

Due to coronavirus pandemic, patients suffering from critical diseases like cancer and those requiring surgeries are delaying hospital visits and reby endangering ir health and even risking ir lives, according to some doctors.

A number of medical practitioners said y have even lost patients who could have survived or ir situation salvd h y reported to hospitals in time.

Dr Mandeep S Malhotra, He of Department - He, Neck and Breast Oncoplasty at Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj, said two of his patients -- an IAS officer and an IT consultant, both d 45 -- h palpable breast lumps in March. Due to fear of COVID-19, y neir reported to hospital r to ir gynaecologists or family doctors and are w in St 4 of breast cancer.

Doctors say patients are even delaying simple surgeries like gall blder stone removal which could le to major issues in long run.