Delhi logs highest single-day deaths, CM Kejriwal calls all-party meeting to discuss COVID-19 situation

New Delhi: Delhi’s coronavirus (Covid-19) tally on Wednesday climbed to over 500,000 after 7,486 fresh cases and 131 new fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours. Wednesday’s deaths are the highest single day death count till date, authorities said.

The total 5,03,084 cases include 42,458 active cases, 452,683 recoveries and 7,943 deaths.

These fresh cases came out of the 62,232 tests conducted the previous day, while the positivity rate stood at 12.03% amid the festive season and rising pollution in the city, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said over 660 ICU beds are planned to be added in various city government hospitals in the next few days in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases here while, an all-party meeting has been called to discuss the situation.

He also said a proposal has been sent to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor for the central government to allow the city government to impose "local lockdowns in the market places which are potential COVID hotspots".

Delhi Health minister Satyendra Jain on Wednesday said there won't be any fresh lockdown in the national capital as there is "no need for it", but restrictions could be imposed in some crowded areas to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government also issued an order on Wednesday allowing all COVID-19 hospitals of the Delhi government to "engage fourth and fifth year MBBS students, interns and BDS doctors to assist duty doctors at an honorarium of Rs 1,000 (8 hour shift) and Rs 2,000 (12 hour shift) per day".

• CM Arvind Kejriwal
• COVID-19 situation
• Delhi
• coronavirus
• highest single-day deaths
• 131 deaths
• all-party meeting