Delhi: COVID-19 RT-PCR testing capacity increases, house-to-house survey starts amid spike in coronavirus cases

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday said that it would increase COVID-19 RT-PCR testing capacity, and house-to-house survey has begun in Delhi amidst a spike in COVID-19 cases.

"ICMR has increased RT-PCR testing capacity from 27,000 tests/day to 37,200 RT-PCR tests per day on directions of HM @AmitShah. 30,735 RT-PCR samples collected in Delhi on 19 Nov as compared to 12,055 RT-PCR samples on 15 Nov," Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs tweeted.

ICMR has increased RT-PCR testing capacity from 27,000 tests/day to 37,200 RT-PCR tests per day on directions of HM @AmitShah. 30,735 RT-PCR samples collected in Delhi on 19 Nov as compared to 12,055 RT-PCR samples on 15 Nov.#Unite2FightCorona @PIB_India @DDNewslive

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) November 21, 2020

"Govt of NCT Delhi has started house to house survey," it added.

Govt of NCT Delhi has started house to house survey.#Unite2FightCorona @PIB_India @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) November 21, 2020

Moreover, the ICU beds in Delhi have increased by 205 in central government hospitals, Delhi government hospitals & private hospitals following a meeting held by Home Minister Amit Shah.

"ICU beds in Delhi have increased by 205 in Central Govt hospitals, Delhi Govt hospitals & pvt. hospitals following a meeting held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Nov 15 to ramp up medical infrastructure for Covid surge," Ministry of Home Affairs tweeted.

On November 15, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attended a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the rise in cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Kejriwal had said earlier that the Centre has assured 750 ICU beds which will be made available at the DRDO centre. 

He further said that the Centre will also help the Delhi government in getting BiPAP machines to increase the number of ICU beds at Delhi government facilities.

Covid-19 cases in Delhi started to rise after October 20. In the week ending November 14, Delhi recorded previously unseen levels of new cases, and daily fatalities have hovered close to 100 a day.

Meanwhile, Delhi has reported 5,17,238 positive cases so far. Of the total, 4,68,143 patients have recovered and 8,159 have lost their lives due to the virus. As per the latest 24-hours data, a total of 6,608 Covid patients were found positive in Delhi till Friday.