New Delhi, April 1 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the city has fewer coronavirus cases when compared to the suspected and quarantine cases, urging doctors and hospitals to be prepared for the hike in numbers.
Kejriwal, while speaking to Delhi doctors dealing with the COVID-19 patients in the city, also said that in India, stage three has not arrived.
"We are at stage two. The local transmission has not yet started in the country."
In Delhi, he said, most are travel cases.
"Local transmission cases are not much. Our aim is to control the local transmission."
The Chief Minister added that the number of positive cases in Delhi is fewer. "But the suspected and quarantine cases are more in Delhi. We have to be prepared to deal with the increasing number, if more turned positive. Our hospitals, doctors and nurses should be prepared for the hike in numbers."
As of Wednesday morning, the total cases of coronavirus patients in Delhi reached 120.
According to the Delhi Health Department, over 42,000 people were under home quarantine in the city with close to 24,000 are yet to complete their 14-day period. The remaining have completed their 14-day quarantine.
Of the 120 positive cases, 49 have foreign travel history while 29 have contact history, 18 were under investigation and 24 are from Nizamuddin area. The Health Department said 266 reports of coronavirus test are pending.
Kejriwal thanked the doctors and said their role is very crucial. "I want to thank all the doctors, nurses, medical and paramedical staff for their efforts. Your role is very critical."
He said the government and the country is with the medical staff. "We will ensure all the money and resources for you."
The Chief Minister acknowledged that there is a lack of Personal protective Equipment and testing kits and promised to arrange them as soon as possible.
"There is a lack of PPE, we are doing all we can to ensure security to you. I am ensuring there is no dearth of PPEs or testing kits."
The Chief Minister said 768 people are admitted to hospitals in the city due to the infection, including 112 positive patients, the rest are under observation.
"Only one among the 112 is on the ventilator and two on oxygen and 109 are stable. Five have been discharged and two deaths have been reported so far in Delhi."
From the Nizamuddin Markaz, he said 536 were taken to the hospitals while 1,810 are in quarantine.
"Community transfer has not yet happened. The situation under control," he later said in a media briefing.
He also informed that the government has decided to give Rs 1 crore to health care professionals' family, if any working staff died while dealing with Coronavirus patients.
The Chief Minister the Cabinet has given the approval for the same.
He said that every precaution will be taken to protect the medical staff dealing with COVID-19 patients, "but despite that if anything untoward happens to them, we will take care of their families".
So far, four doctors in the city have been tested positive for coronavirus the deadly infection which has killed thousands across the globe.
( With inputs from IANS )