Coronavirus: Delhi might witness 5.5 lakh cases by July-end, says deputy CM Manish Sisodia

By Team Newsable | First Published Jun 9, 2020, 3:03 PM IST

Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain said that the source of coronavirus infection in nearly half of the new cases reported is unknown

New Delhi: Officials from the Centre say there is no community transmission of COVID-19 in Delhi, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia asserted on Tuesday, and estimated that there might be 5.5 lakh COVID-19 cases in the city by July 31.

Delhi will need 80,000 beds by July end, he told reporters after a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

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The meeting was chaired by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, who is also chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.

"Officials from the Centre said at the meeting that there is no community transmission of COVID-19 virus in Delhi," Sisodia told the media.

The lieutenant governor has refused to reconsider his decision to overrule the Delhi government's order reserving state-run and private hospitals for Delhiites, the deputy chief minister said.

As coronavirus cases continue to mount in the national capital, Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain today said the source of infection is "not known" in nearly half of the fresh cases being reported.

Interacting with reporters, he also said that the Kejriwal government is making all the preparations to handle the huge rush of patients estimated by June end. When asked if Delhi has reached community transmission level as far as coronavirus infection is concerned, he said a declaration on this has been made by the Centre.

"Epidemiologically, community transmission is the third stage of the infection... In Delhi, of the new cases being reported, nearly half of the cases, the source of infection is not known," he said.

The national capital recorded 1,007 fresh coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the COVID-19 tally in the city over the 29,000-mark, and the death toll due to the disease mounted to 874, authorities said.

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