Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said the Government has issued orders to increase the number of beds in both private and Delhi Government hospitals to deal with the situation of increasing number of Covid-19 cases.

Delhi recorded 5,100 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, the highest since November 27 last year when the city reported 5,482 cases in a day.

Jain said, “Delhi reported 3,548 active cases whereas the positivity rate was 5.54per cent. Nearly 65,000 tests were done. We have directed both the Government and private hospitals to escalate the number of beds available for Covid patients. Almost 5,000 beds will be added in both private and Delhi Government hospitals.”

The Health Minister said that 33 hospitals under the Delhi Government will have a 24-hour vaccine facility. Jain added that they are hopeful that the Central Government will take cognisance of the Chief Minister’s proposal to roll out the vaccine to all. Delhi has sufficient doses of vaccines, said Jain.

While responding to a question about the positivity rate being above five per cent, Jain said, “So far, there is only one day where the positivity rate was more than five per cent. The trend needs to be monitored, and we are keeping a close watch on it. Currently, the positivity rate has crossed the five per cent mark for the entire country,” he said.

Responding to queries surrounding the details about the 24×7 functioning of vaccination centres in Delhi Government hospitals and the letter written by Chief Minister of Delhi to roll out the vaccine to the entire population barring the age limit, Jain said, “Vaccination sites in all 33 Delhi Government Hospitals will be functional for 24 hours. So far, only people above 45 years have been allowed to get the vaccination as per the protocol. The benefit of rolling out the vaccine to all is important as the young generation, although does not face problems, can act as carriers of the infection,” he said.