Covid Surge: Delhi Reports Two New Cases, Samples Sent For Genome Sequencing

Health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said Delhi has stepped up Covid testing after a surge in cases. A total of 636 RT-PCR tests were conducted on Wednesday.

People wear masks amid rise in Covid-19 cases across the country.

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New Delhi: Delhi reported two new Covid-19 cases on Thursday. Samples of all the positive cases have been sent for genome sequencing to detect if the infections are caused by JN.1 sub-variant, Medical Superintendent of AIIMS said, news agency ANI reported. This comes hours after health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted there were no new cases of JN.1 variant after the lone patient was discharged from the hospital.

The minister also said that the national capital has stepped up Covid testing after a surge in cases. A total of 636 RT-PCR tests were conducted on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

Bharadwaj also said that he has instructed the officials concerned to conduct genome sequencing of all the positive cases in Delhi.

"I have reiterated the directions for genome sequencing of all the positive cases, so that the number of cases of new variants can be confirmed. Yesterday, three variants were confirmed, of which two were of the old Omicron variant and the new one is JN.1 variant. The good thing is that the patient diagnosed with the new variant, who was hospitalised, has been discharged," Bharadwaj told PTI.

The patient was a 52-year-old woman who got admitted as she was worried, he further said.

Delhi Health Minister Takes Stock Of Covid Preparedness At LNJP Hospital

Saurabh Bharadwaj also visited the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital to take stock of its Covid preparedness and said that the facility is fully prepared to deal with any exigencies, PTI reported.

"Following the oxygen shortage that was seen during the Covid wave in Delhi and across the country, the hospital now has piped oxygen supply through a centralised system," PTI quoted the minister as saying.

Asked if the government is planning to reserve beds for Covid patients, Bharadwaj said only four patients are hospitalised currently and beds will be required for other critical patients.

"If you reserve beds, where will those patients who have surgeries planned or have suffered from strokes or heart attacks go? We are monitoring the situation and if need be, will reserve beds. There are only four patients who have been hospitalised," Bharadwaj told PTI.