Health department officials have asked hospitals, polyclinics and dispensaries in Delhi to ramp up Covid testing amid a rise in cases over the past several days. The instructions have been issued after the national capital witnessed a sudden surge in cases, logging a record number of 733 Covid cases on Friday — the highest so far in the past seven months.
A source in the health department, as cited by PTI, said, “Authorities at these facilities have been told that anyone who visits such facilities and exhibits ILI (influenza-like illness) symptoms, such as fever, cough, body ache is to be tested as cases have risen and the daily count is growing steadily.”
Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the government is keeping a close eye on the surging cases and is “prepared to face any eventuality,” reported PTI.
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After chairing a review meeting on Covid, he also said there was no need to worry for now and that the government was taking all required steps. However, another source in the health department said Covid vaccine doses at city government facilities are “not in stock” at present, reported PTI.
He said, “Request had been sent to the Centre for allotment of more Covid vaccine doses. The old stock has an expiry period, so all doses were used before that date.”
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Amid the rising cases, a senior doctor in the health department said people should get their booster shots if they have not been administered with it so far.
However, the doctor acknowledged that people have stopped getting booster shots due to reports claiming side effects of vaccines on the heart.
Several other states have also witnessed a surge in cases and the Centra has asked states to be alert and prepared in the wake of the spike.