With over 2,244 fresh coronavirus cases reported on Sunday, the total number of people infected with Covid- 19 reached 99,444 till now in Delhi.

As per the Sunday heath bulletin released by the Delhi Government, "71,339 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far, while number of active cases stood at 25,038".

The Delhi Government has also issued an order for engagement of manpower up to 25 per cent in addition to existing sanctioned strength in outsourced services by individual hospitals or institutions under health and family welfare of the Delhi government.

As per the bulletin, Principal Secretary of Health and Family welfare took a meeting with Secretary (Health), Special Secretaries and DGHS regarding strengthening COVID-19 surveillance response in the National capital Territory of Delhi.

Rapid-antigen tests started in the city on June 18. Since then a total of 643504 tests through the RT-PCR (reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction) and rapid-antigen methods have been conducted in Delhi with around 9873 (RT-PCR) tests conducted on Sunday.

Of this, around 13263 people have been tested through rapid-antigen kits, according to the Delhi government's health bulletins.

The number of tests per day has also seen an around four-fold increase from 4,190 tests per day in the first week of June to 15,863 tests per day in the last week of the month.

According to health authorities, rapid-antigen testing is an easy and cheaper method as compared to the RT-PCR test.

Each testing kit costs Rs 450 and can provide results within 30 minutes as compared to RT-PCR test that takes three to four hours.

The kits, called Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection, have been developed by South Korean company S D Biosensor. The testing method involves looking for antibodies which are produced when the body is exposed to a pathogen.

If a person has antibodies associated with novel coronavirus, it means the person is either COVID-19 positive or has recovered.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, suspected individuals who test negative for COVID-19 in rapid-antigen test should undergo RT-PCR to rule out the infection.

While positive test results should be considered as true positive and do not need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test, it said. Rapid-antigen testing requires a prescription and an ICMR form filled by a registered doctor, and a government identity proof, same as that for RT-PCR test.