Delhi has reported 13,500 cases in the last 24 hours, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told the media on Tuesday. He added that during the peak of the pandemic in November, 8,500 cases were reported. “This wave is very dangerous. As per the data of the last 10 to 15 days, 65% of the patients are below 45 years of age. Your health and life is very important to us. So, I'd like to appeal to the youth to step out of the house only when it is necessary and follow all COVID protocols,” Kejriwal told the media on Tuesday.
The Delhi Chief Minister has also asked the Union government to consider cancelling the board exams for Classes 10 and 12 in view of rise in COVID-19 cases. He said that conducting board exams can lead to large scale spread of coronavirus and that alternative methods of assessment can be explored.
“Six lakh children in Delhi are going to write CBSE exams. Nearly one lakh teachers will be a part of it. These can become major hotspots leading to large-scale spreading of coronavirus. Children's lives and health is very important to us. I request the Centre to cancel CBSE exams,” Kejriwal said. “Some alternative methods could be thought of. Children can be promoted this time on the basis of either an online method or internal assessment. But CBSE exams should be cancelled,” he added.
Delhi is among the top ten states and UTs, apart from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala, which have shown a rise in the COVID-19 daily cases, accounting for 80.80 per cent of the new infections reported in a day, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
India's daily new cases continue to rise. A total of 1,61,736 new cases were registered in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 51,751. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 13,604 while Chhattisgarh reported 13,576 new cases.
India's total active caseload has reached 12,64,698 which now comprises 9.24 per cent of the country's total infections. A net increase of 63,689 cases recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The five states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala cumulatively account for 68.85 per cent of India's total Active Cases. Maharashtra alone accounts for 44.78 per cent of the total active caseload of the country.