• Latest
  • Trending
Heavy pollution has shrouded the city in recent days - GETTY IMAGES

Delhi’s Covid cases spike as temperatures drop and pollution rises

November 12, 2020
Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

Saudi crown prince approved operation to capture or kill Khashoggi: US intelligence report

February 27, 2021
Image credits - Mint

Low gold prices spark flurry of activity in India

February 27, 2021
The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

February 27, 2021
Image credits - ICC (Twitter)

India’s double World Cup winner Yusuf Pathan retires

February 27, 2021
Image credits - Raghu Nayyar / Unsplash

India’s economy exits from recession, recovery seen gathering pace

February 27, 2021
India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

February 27, 2021
Image credits - Joshua Oluwagbemiga / Unsplash

Gunmen take 317 schoolgirls in Nigeria’s latest mass abduction

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Timothy Newman / Unsplash

Biden launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria to “send a message”

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Slash Gear

Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

Biden discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen with Saudi King Salman

February 26, 2021
Lankan Prez lays his cards on the table in Independence Day oration

Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

February 26, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, February 27, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Image credits - Mint

    Low gold prices spark flurry of activity in India

    Image credits - ICC (Twitter)

    India’s double World Cup winner Yusuf Pathan retires

    Image credits - Raghu Nayyar / Unsplash

    India’s economy exits from recession, recovery seen gathering pace

    India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

    India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

    Lankan Prez lays his cards on the table in Independence Day oration

    Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink

    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

    India rout England in two-day spin mayhem in Ahmedabad

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Saudi crown prince approved operation to capture or kill Khashoggi: US intelligence report

    Image credits - Joshua Oluwagbemiga / Unsplash

    Gunmen take 317 schoolgirls in Nigeria’s latest mass abduction

    Image credits - Timothy Newman / Unsplash

    Biden launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria to “send a message”

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Biden discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen with Saudi King Salman

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

    Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

    Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Image credits - Gullah / Pixabay

    Disney returns to profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    Swati Mohan spearheaded the attitude control and landing system of the Perseverance rover. (Image: Nasa)

    Swati Mohan, Indian-American scientist who led charge to land Nasa rover on Mars, was inspired by Star Trek as a kid

    Image credits - Luca Rüegg / Unsplash

    NASA’s astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing

    Image credits - Arlington Research / Unsplash

    Pandemic to widen skill gaps as workplaces change, McKinsey says

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Image credits - Mint

    Low gold prices spark flurry of activity in India

    Image credits - ICC (Twitter)

    India’s double World Cup winner Yusuf Pathan retires

    Image credits - Raghu Nayyar / Unsplash

    India’s economy exits from recession, recovery seen gathering pace

    India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

    India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

    Lankan Prez lays his cards on the table in Independence Day oration

    Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink

    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

    India rout England in two-day spin mayhem in Ahmedabad

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Saudi crown prince approved operation to capture or kill Khashoggi: US intelligence report

    Image credits - Joshua Oluwagbemiga / Unsplash

    Gunmen take 317 schoolgirls in Nigeria’s latest mass abduction

    Image credits - Timothy Newman / Unsplash

    Biden launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria to “send a message”

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Biden discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen with Saudi King Salman

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

    Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

    Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Image credits - Gullah / Pixabay

    Disney returns to profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    Swati Mohan spearheaded the attitude control and landing system of the Perseverance rover. (Image: Nasa)

    Swati Mohan, Indian-American scientist who led charge to land Nasa rover on Mars, was inspired by Star Trek as a kid

    Image credits - Luca Rüegg / Unsplash

    NASA’s astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing

    Image credits - Arlington Research / Unsplash

    Pandemic to widen skill gaps as workplaces change, McKinsey says

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia

Delhi’s Covid cases spike as temperatures drop and pollution rises

The city confirmed more than 8,500 cases on Wednesday alone, its highest daily record yet.

Editor by Editor
November 12, 2020
in Around South Asia, Coronavirus, Environment, Health, India
Reading Time: 5min read
1 0
Heavy pollution has shrouded the city in recent days - GETTY IMAGES

Heavy pollution has shrouded the city in recent days - GETTY IMAGES

Share on WhatsApp

New Delhi, November 12 (BBC) – India’s capital, Delhi, is battling a winter surge in Covid-19 cases as temperatures plummet and air pollution rises to dangerous levels.

The city confirmed more than 8,500 cases on Wednesday alone, its highest daily record yet.

It also added 85 deaths in a day, putting the total beyond 7,000.

The sharp spike in cases after a months-long lull has also put pressure on hospitals – more than half the available beds are already occupied.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to the federal government asking for more beds at government hospitals as public pressure mounts.

At 8.6m and counting, India currently has the world’s second-highest caseload. But it had been on the decline from the middle of September: daily case counts dropped from nearly 100,000 to as low as 37,000 in the weeks that followed, even as testing remained consistent.

The daily national tally continues to hover between 40,000-50,000 – India recorded some 48,200 cases on Wednesday.

Delhi's Covid cases spike as temperatures drop and pollution rises
Delhi’s Covid cases spike as temperatures drop and pollution rises

But Delhi has seen an alarming spike in recent weeks, recording more new cases than any other state. The capital has confirmed just over 450,000 cases so far, some 42,000 of which are active.

It comes as large swathes of northern India confront a winter season and dangerously high levels of air pollution – two factors that could significantly worsen efforts to control the virus, according to experts.

The rising numbers also coincide with a busy festival season in India, with Hindus celebrating Diwali this weekend. Delhi has banned the sale and use of fireworks and officials have reinforced the need for social distancing, but visuals of crowds thronging markets in the city have caused alarm. Authorities found a high positivity rate among shopkeepers in some of the oldest markets, which are at risk of becoming hotspots.

“Two elderly patients of mine had to wait for more than 20 hours to get a bed,” said Dr Joyeeta Basu, a physician in Delhi.

Nearly 8,600 beds out of the 16,573 Covid beds in Delhi’s public and private hospitals were full as of Wednesday evening, according to the government’s Corona app. But more worryingly, unoccupied beds in intensive care units (ICU) are more scarce – only 176 beds with ventilators and 338 beds without ventilators are available. On Thursday, the Delhi High Court said some 33 private hospitals could reserve 80% of ICU beds for Covid patients due to spiralling cases and strained hospital resources.

Residents in Delhi have flocked to markets during the festive season
Residents in Delhi have flocked to markets during the festive season

Doctors say the pandemic is raging inside the city’s hospitals, where free beds are getting filled up by the minute.

Thousands of beds in the government-owned hospitals remain free, according to the app. But there are no vacant beds in at least 24 private hospitals and less than 50 are available across 80 private hospitals listed on the app.

But many who can afford private healthcare will not choose to go to a public hospital in India, where the quality of infrastructure is often poorer. India has an abysmal record in public health, spending just over 1% of its GDP on it.

“All of my patients would only go to a private hospital. But with the way things are going, we may have to settle for whatever beds we can get in the coming days,” Dr Basu added.

Dr Randeep Guleria, director at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, one of India’s biggest public hospitals, told local media that the spike means patients requiring admission into hospitals will rise.

“Additionally, there is an increase in the number of patients coming to the emergency [room] with acute respiratory problems because of air pollution and respiratory viral infections,” he told NDTV.

Air quality monitors show that pollution levels are 14 times greater than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe levels.

Another worrying factor is that general immunity in colder weather is reduced regardless of one’s age or comorbidities, according to Prof K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, a Delhi-based think tank.

Cold weather is also more hospitable to the virus, whose survival time rises in dry and chilly air, he said.

“Cold air is heavier and less mobile, which means viral clouds or viral particles will hover closer to the ground, making it easier to get into one’s lungs.”

Add pollution to this scenario, and it’s “a double whammy”, he added, as cooler air means that pollutants will stick around longer.

Studies around the world have linked air pollution to higher Covid-19 case numbers and deaths. A Harvard University study showed that an increase of only one microgram per cubic metre in PM 2.5 – dangerous tiny pollutants in the air – is associated with an 8% increase in the Covid-19 death rate.

Another study by Cambridge University found a link between the severity of Covid-19 infection and long-term exposure to air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, car exhaust fumes or burning of fossil fuels.

“We have to keep our fingers crossed,” said Prof Reddy, adding that Delhi initially felt a strain when cases shot up in April. “It started to come back down in June when we had warmer weather and much better air.”

European countries like France and Italy, which grabbed headlines at the start of the pandemic for rising cases, were hit hard in January and February under a harsh winter, he said.

“This is the first time we will have to deal with the virus under a winter season so we can’t go by what happened in the summer. We will certainly be more vulnerable.”

Tags: coronavirusCovid-19DelhiPollution
SendShareTweetShareShare
Editor

Editor

Recommended Articles

  • All
  • Recommend
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

February 25, 2021
Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

February 25, 2021
Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

February 23, 2021
The Bengalis’ pioneering struggle for language rights

The Bengalis’ pioneering struggle for language rights

February 21, 2021
Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

February 20, 2021
Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Male enhances economic ties with  Maldives

Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Male enhances economic ties with Maldives

February 20, 2021

Advertorial

  • All
  • Advertorial
Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

January 3, 2021

Popular Now

  • UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    53 shares
    Share 37 Tweet 7
  • Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    27 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 4
  • Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    12 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Vaccines roll out to public; six centres in Colombo

    11 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

    15 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 3
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In