Delhi reported an all-time high of 13,500 COVID-19 cases on Monday, April 12, surpassing Mumbai as the COVID capital. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressed the citizens on Tuesday and appealed for
everyone to follow COVID protocols. He especially appealed to the youth of the area and said that in the ongoing wave, they were the most at risk. “The wave this time is affecting the youth much more. In the data collected by us, 65% of the COVID cases reported within the last week were of those aged below 45 years. All of you are very important for the country, and for your families. I request you to not leave your homes unless it is absolutely necessary,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
He also pointed to the fact that the 6 lakh students sitting for the upcoming CBSE board exams will be at great risk and raised an appeal to cancel them. “It is highly possible that exam centers with 6 lakh students and 1 lakh invigilating teachers can become COVID hotspots. I urge the central government to consider canceling the exams,” he added.
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He further said that several other countries abroad and some states in India have already canceled the exams, and thus it should be done on a national level. “We can consider evaluating the students through online tests or internal assessments,” Mr. Kejrwal added.
A day after Maharashtra reported its highest ever spike of 63,000 cases, the state government on Monday made an announcement to postpone the class 10th and 12th board exams in lieu of the increasing COVID cases. The exams have also been postponed in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
On Monday, the Delhi government also announced that 14 private hospitals will be converted to fully COVID hospitals. “We had to take the decision to ensure that there is adequate health infrastructure available, primarily because we do not want to impose a lockdown,” Mr. Kejriwal said. Several private hospitals have also been extended with the help of banquet halls and hotels where less severe patients will be admitted. The CM further added, “Oxygen will be readily available in the extended spaces, and the hospitals will primarily be reserved for serious COVID patients. While we have enough resources to cater to non-COVID ailments as well, I request those who have planned surgeries (that are not serious), to postpone them.”
Seeing a rise in cases, Mr. Kejriwal also appealed for recovered citizens to donate plasma. He said that while plasma was being donated regularly during the last peak, it surmised due to a dip in cases. “We request every patient who has recovered from the virus to donate plasma again at the LNJP or Rajiv Gandhi Hospital,” he added.
The national capital has been witnessing a rise in COVID-19 cases in the last week, and on Monday reported 13,500 cases, marking the total to over 7 lakh.