Why Delhi is losing the fight against COVID?
As per the Delhi government, one of the major issues behind the surge in corona cases is the winter season itself and the rise in pollution level due to stubble burning.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the chief ministers of states across the country to review the situation regarding coronavirus disease across the country on Tuesday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal presented facts claiming that the Covid-19 cases and positivity rate has been steadily decreasing in the national capital since November 10.
“Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal informed PM Modi that Delhi saw a peak of 8,600 Covid-19 cases on 10 November in the third peak. Since then, the cases and positivity rate are steadily decreasing. The high severity of the third wave is due to many factors, including pollution,” the chief minister’s office (CMO) said.
Though the number of cases might have decreased slightly, the danger has not ended.
As per the Delhi government, one of the major issues behind the surge in corona cases is the winter season itself and the rise in pollution level due to stubble burning. Recently, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi Marlena asked for action against the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana, which was a reaction to this stubble burning. Delhi government and the Chief Minister has time and again showed their inability to stop pollution without cooperation from the center. Senior CMO officials also said that Kejriwal sought PM Modi’s intervention to get rid of pollution due to stubble burning from adjoining states, especially because of recent bio decomposer.
The national capital for the past several days has been adding the highest number of cases towards the country’s daily Covid-19 tally. As many as 4,454 cases and 121 more fatalities were recorded on Monday. This was the sixth time in the last 12 days that the daily toll crossed the 100-mark.
The Delhi High Court has openly expressed its resentment about the rising Covid cases in the capital and has asked the government about the measures to control it. While rebuking the Government the High Court put some strong questions to the Government regarding its inability to take timely measures for controlling the rise of Covid cases.
It seems as though the Kejriwal Government could not foresee that the festive season will bring a surge in the cases. The low testing rates in the Capital also pointed fingers at the Delhi Government policies to deal with rising cases. The people became too careless and overutilized their freedom during the festive season and stopped taking precautions while the Government maintained leniency.
Delhi despite struggling with the virus, is yet to wake up from the slumber as the cases have again started to peak out in their third cycle. The frequent rise in the cases instilled fear in the hearts of the public. Though the government blames Diwali and the rise in pollution for the current surge in coronavirus cases, experts suggest that strong measures and enforcement need to be implemented on the ground.
