Covid: New hotspots drive daily cases to 50,000 in India, Delhi sets an example

Some of the biggest cities such as Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have become the new Covid hotspots while Kolkata is seeing a flare-up in cases. The earlier epicentres — Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad — seem to have peaked, and are seeing lower numbers. Such is the rise in the cases in these cities that India is now adding nearly 50,000 cases a day. Teena Thacker takes a closer look.

Why these new hotspots

• Spread of infection with increased mobility
• Easing of lockdown
• Lack of preventive strong response from states

RX – Centre prescribes Delhi model

• Centre has rushed teams to Chennai and Bengaluru
• Has recommended Delhi model to contain spread
• Delhi reported 613 cases in past 24 hours —lowest in 2 months
• Capital was second worst in terms of cases in June

What is the Delhi model?

• Delhi ramped up testing capacity sevenfold as infections rose
• Strengthened early detection and treatment
• Introduced antigen testing for quick results
• Early detection allowed isolation, which helped curb spread
• Created capacity of over 30,000 beds
• House-to-house surveillance to identify people with co-morbidities