New Delhi: Even as Delhi continues to witness a surge in Covid-19 cases, it is seeing further easing of the guidelines enforced to keep the pandemic in check.
In two separate orders Saturday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and comprising the CM and other ministers of the cabinet, allowed up to 200 guests at weddings (up from 50), and public buses to carry passengers at full capacity (up from 50 per cent).
Meanwhile, Delhi set a new record for daily Covid cases Tuesday as it registered 6,725 infections, or 18 per cent of the country’s total. The daily caseload had dropped below the 4,000-mark Monday after five consecutive days of staying over 5,000.
As of Tuesday, Delhi had recorded a total of 4,03,096 cases with 3,60,069 recoveries and 6,652 deaths.
Speaking to ThePrint, experts said in light of the rising Covid incidence, large gatherings like weddings could turn into super-spreader events. The emphasis of the authorities should, instead, be on social distancing and crowd control.
ThePrint reached Delhi Director General for Health Services Dr Nutan Mundeja via phone call, and Principal Secretary (Health) Vikram Dev Dutt and Health Minister Satyendar Jain via email for comments on this report. However, there was no response by the time of publishing this report.
Also Read: Doctors warn of Delhi Covid spike as pollution levels rise & temperature begins to drop
200 guests at weddings, buses to run at full capacity
In its order on weddings, accessed by ThePrint, the DDMA allowed wedding halls to accommodate 50 per cent of their capacity — with a ceiling of 200. With regard to open spaces, the capacity will be decided by district magistrates and the district deputy commissioners of police, it said.
In another order, the DDMA eased curbs imposed on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses by allowing them to run at full capacity. However, no passenger will be allowed to stand, and entry and exit of passengers will continue to be through separate doors.
Wearing masks and social distancing will be mandatory for both buses as well as weddings.
Experts worry that big weddings with 200 guests in closed spaces may emerge as super-spreader events, or events that serve as the source of infection for a big group of people.
“Indoor spaces with as many as 200 guests can become super-spreading events. I don’t understand why the government is allowing such gatherings now amid this surge. Instead, the focus should be on crowd control,” said Dr T. Jacob John, virologist and former professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore.
“Virus transmission has already increased due to the rising pollution. In such a scenario, they should have waited at least another two weeks before taking such a decision,” he added.
If the government has decided to allow as many as 200 guests at weddings, experts said, they should also ensure compliance with Covid protocol at the functions.
“Ensuring compliance with Covid norms at such large gatherings is easier said than done. While wanting economic activities to resume is understandable, ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviour at such gatherings is very difficult,” said Rijo M. John, a health economist who works with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a consultant.
Rijo further sought to point out that the relaxations have come at a time when the number of tests in Delhi is believed to have fallen.
“In September, during the previous spike in cases, (CM Arvind) Kejriwal had said that cases have spiked due to increased testing. But now testing has reduced and cases are rising. Changing testing strategy to conduct the more conclusive RT-PCR tests is fine, but why are they reducing the rapid antigen tests when numbers are rising?” he asked.
Rijo was referring to the fact that, following a dressing down from the Delhi High Court for not utilising its full capacity of RT-PCR tests, the national capital has revised its testing strategy. It is carrying out a higher number of RT-PCR tests — considered the gold standard of Covid testing — than before, and has marginally reduced the number of rapid antigen tests, which are quicker but prone to false negatives.
On some days over the past week, Delhi has notched testing numbers like 36,665 (2 November), 44,623 (1 November) and 44,330 (31 October), as compared to an average of over 50,000 daily through September and October. However, it has been above the average on other days — 59,540 on 3 November, 59,641 on 30 October and 60,123 on 29 October.
Also Read: Delhi markets are crowded with Diwali shoppers, there is no place for Covid rules
‘Focus on controlling fatalities’
Asked about the easing of guidelines, a senior official in the Delhi government said on the condition of anonymity that the decisions “have been taken by the DDMA”. The official also said the government is preparing for cases to spike further.
“Cases have increased due to the festive season. You can see people are crowding markets and not complying with the Covid protocol. So, we are expecting cases to rise further but we want to prevent more deaths. Our focus is on controlling the death rate.”
According to the official, the government is closely monitoring patients both in home isolation and in hospitals. “We are also increasing oxygen beds. With pollution also rising, our focus is on the symptomatic patients and to ensure that fatalities are controlled,” the official added.
Within October, Delhi added one lakh cases to its Covid tally. The Delhi Health Minister Saturday attributed the surge to people’s non-compliance with Covid guidelines, along with the festive season and pollution.
“There are a few reasons behind the spike, including festive season, fall in temperature, rising pollution levels and a general sense of fatigue among people. People must consider masks as the only vaccine till the actual vaccine comes. Many disregard advice to wear masks, saying they are immune to the virus. But they must realise their act might put vulnerable groups such as senior citizens at risk,” said Jain.
A similar assessment emerged from a meeting Monday that was chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and officials of Delhi Police.
Also Read: Delhi’s Covid death rate nearly doubles in September-October to 1.18% from 0.69%