COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi
The first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indian capital Delhi was reported on 2 March 2020. Delhi has the third highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 pandemic in India after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The total of infected people reported as on is consisting of deaths and recovery.
On 22 March, Delhi observed a 14-hour voluntary public curfew named Janata curfew along with 75 district in India at the directive from PM, prior to his order of nationwide lockdown for 21 days from 24 March 2020.
Thousands of migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar gathered in Anand Vihar Bus Station on 29 March 2020. More than 3000 people from a religious gathering in Nizamuddin Markaz Mosque in Nizamuddin West area were quarantined after suspected contact with infected people. 1300 Tablighi were found gathered, including foreigners in Markaz.
It was reported that air quality index of Delhi improved on 28 March 2020 after the lockdown and reduced vehicular movements.
Timeline
- The first case of coronavirus at Delhi was confirmed on 2 March when a 45 years old person from East Delhi, with a history of travel from Italy, has been tested to be positive for COVID-19. Total 92 contacts of Delhi index case have been traced. Out of these 92 contacts 14 belong to Delhi and rest 74 contacts have been cross notified to respective states. Out of 14 contacts two were symptomatic and found negative for COVID-19.
- After two days without new cases, on 5 March, the second person a 26-year-old Paytm employee from Uttam Nagar, West Delhi having history of travel to Italy and France, who had arrived at Delhi on 26 February tested positive. His all family members are also asymptomatic, put under home quarantine and their samples have been taken. Contact tracing of the person at his office was done and a list of 91 employees was received out of which 18 contacts of Delhi have been shared with district teams for surveillance. 1 contact each from Faridabad and Noida and remaining 71 are from Gurugram. Information has been sent to their respective District surveillance officers.
- On 6 March 3 positive case reported from Uttam Nagar. There are 8 members in family, including him. Samples of all family members have been collected. The details of contact tracing, of case no 1 to 3. Case no 1 -Total no of contact traced 105 til date. His contact from Delhi and outside are 41 and 64 respectively. Number of sample sent based on risk stratification 19, all had been in home quarantine. Case no 2 - Total no of contact traced 95. Contact from Delhi 22 and outside 73, 93 at home, 2 at hospital. Number of sample sent based on risk stratification 4. Case no 3-Total no of contact traced 11. Contact from Delhi 11 and all at home. Number of sample sent based on risk stratification 11.
- On 9 March 4 positive case reported. 76 Contact traced who are from Delhi and in home quarantine.
- On 11 March 5 th case of Delhi, reported today from Janakpuri, a 46 yrs male, having history of travel to Japan, Geneva and Italy. He is admitted at RML hospital. There are 9 members in his family, all are asymptomatic except his mother. Surveillance of nearby 50 houses has been done.
- On 12 March 6th Case of Delhi, reported from Janakpuri, a 69 yrs female, having history of contact with 5th case. She is admitted in RML hospital. There are 9 members in her family, as per report provided by RML Hospital the condition of the patient is unstable and rest of the family members are asymptomatic.
- On 14 March as per MOHFW, report case no 6, mother of case 5 expired on 13 March. The death was due to comorbidity with COVID-19 and she was second victim in India, due to this virus. 7 th case reported positive on 13 March, isolated at Safdarjung Hospital. He is a resident of Rajasthan and an evacuee from Italy who was quarantined at Manesar Camp.
| Age | Total positive cases | Total Deaths | Co morbidity in death cases | Case Fatality Rate |
| Less than 50 yrs | 4833 | 13 | 10 | 0.27 % |
| 50-59 yrs | 1073 | 24 | 18 | 2.24 % |
| 60 and above 60 yrs | 1017 | 36 | 33 | 3.54 % |
| Total | 6923 | 73 | 61 | 1.05 % |
World's Largest Temporary COVID-19 Hospital
On 24 June 2020, the Delhi government set up the world's largest temporary COVID-19 care hospital of 10,000 beds, as the country grapples with rapidly rising cases.Tablighi Jamaat event
The Tablighi Jamaat wanted to arrange the program somewhere in Vasai, Maharashtra. After the outbreak of COVID-19 in Maharashtra, the Government of Maharashtra and Mumbai Police called off the meeting. After the rejection from the Government of Maharashtra, the Nizamuddin faction of the Tablighi Jamaat held the religious congregational program in Nizamuddin West, Delhi. The Delhi Government's order of 13 March that no seminars, conferences or any big event are to be held was apparently ignored by the organisation, and the Delhi Police also failed to enforce it. There were also other violation of rules by foreign speakers including misuse of tourist visa for missionary activities and not taking 14-day home quarantine for travellers from abroad.At least 24 of the attendees had tested positive for the virus among the 300 who showed symptoms by 31 March 2020. It is believed that the sources of infection were preachers from Indonesia. Many had returned to their states and also provided refuge to foreign speakers without the knowledge of local governments. and eventually started local transmissions especially in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam. The entire Nizamuddin West area has been cordoned off by the Police as of 30 March, and medical camps have been set up. After evacuation from the markaz, of the scores of jamaat attendees, 167 of them were quarantined in a railway facility in south east Delhi amid concerns over their safety and transmission of the virus. The Tablighi Jamaat gathering emerged as one of India's major coronavirus hotspots in India, after 1445 out of 4067 cases were linked to attendees according to the Health Ministry. On 18 April 2020, Central Government said that 4,291 cases were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat, and these cases were spread across 23 states and Union Territories.
Questions have been raised as to how the Delhi Police allowed this event to proceed in the midst of a pandemic, while a similar event was prohibited in Mumbai by the Maharashtra Police. Once the COVID lockdown came into effect in Delhi from 22 March onwards, the missionaries remaining in the Nizamuddin Markaz were trapped, and the functionaries began to seek assistance from the authorities for their evacuation. As of 4 April, more than 1000 cases, representing 30% all confimed cases in India, were linked to the Nizamuddin event. Some 22,000 people that came in contact with the Tablighi Jamaat missionaries had to be quarantined. On 31 March 2020, an FIR was filed against Muhammad Saad Kandhlawi and others by Delhi Police Crime Branch under Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Sections 269, 270, 271 and 120b of the IPC. On 8 April 2020, the Delhi Police traced Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi in Zakirnagar in South-East Delhi, where he claimed to be under self-quarantine. Many other members of the missionary group have also been booked for allegedly helping spread the disease, including by hiding in mosques, a police official claimed. However, the Government of India has denied that it is singling out Muslims.
Government responses
Containment Strategy
March
On 12 March, the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal declared COVID-19 an epidemic in Delhi. This made the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 applicable to the territory. Schools, colleges and cinema halls were ordered to be closed until 31 March. Other public places including offices and shopping malls were to be compulsorily disinfected. Kejriwal advised people to stay away from public gatherings.On 13 March, the Indian Premier League matches were banned in Delhi, as were all sports gatherings. Conferences and seminars beyond 200 people were also banned. The deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia invoked the example of the religious superspreader in South Korea, and said that the Delhi government was determined to prevent such incidents.
On 16 March, the ban was strengthened to all gatherings over 50 people, including those for religious, social, cultural, political, academic, sports etc. reasons.
On 19 March, Arvind Kejriwal announced that all restaurants will be closed till 31 March in view of the ever increasing case of coronavirus. He said that there will be a take away system from restaurants without any eating facilities in the venue. He also said that 20 or more people will not be allowed to unite anywhere in the state. On 20 March, the number changes to 5 people. It was announced that all shops, industries, commercial establishments, offices would remain closed.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that from 23 to 31 March 2020, all domestic/international flights arriving to Delhi would be suspended. By 22 March, CM Kejriwal had announced lockdown from 23 March 6 a.m. to 31 March midnight. Except essential services every services had been closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Borders had been sealed except for transportation of essential services. On 24 March, the lockdown further extended till 14 April 2020 after PM Narendra Modi announced a complete nationwide lockdown, starting from midnight of 24 March 2020 for 21 days.
April
On 14 April, Modi extended lockdown till 3 May 2020 after recommendation from several state governments. On 19 April, CM Kejriwal announced that keeping in mind the current situation of Delhi, there will be no exemption in ongoing lockdown till the next week. By 28 April, the Delhi Government had given some relaxation during lockdown period, in following services such as Health care, Inter and intra state movement for health care staff including by air if necessary, shelter homes, services by self employed person for household need like electrician, plumber etc., shops for electric fan and school books. All these relaxation for the areas which is not declared as containment zone.May
On 4 May, the Ministry of home affairs announced the extension of lockdown from 4 May 2020 til 17 May 2020 at Delhi and declared all districts as red zone. Government and private offices will operate with 33% manpower but strength of Government officers up to Deputy Secretary level will be 100%. Standalone liquor shops having L6 and L8 licences and tobacco products shops will be open from 4 May. Industrial activities in special economic zones, industrial estates and townships, all manufacturing units of essential goods, standalone shops in neighborhood would remain open. On 18 May, the Central Government extended lockdown til 31 May 2020. According to new guideline Sports complexes and stadium will open for matches without spectator. Doctors, paramedics and nursing staff will have permission to cross the border without hassle since there was some issue in Haryana border. A nationwide curfew from 7 PM to & AM.June
On 1 June, Lock down 5 or unlock phase 1 started and CM Delhi announced that Delhi border had been sealed for one week except for the persons have permissions for essential services. Shops will remain open every day no restrictions of odd even day. Barabar shop/salon have permission to reopen except spa. Central Government eased Nationwide curfew now its from 9 PM to 5 AM which has exemption for the persons involved in essential services. Restriction of two passengers in a car with driver, scooter without pillion rider had been removed by both the Central and State Government.
Delhi government had initiated a disinfection drive in Delhi from 13 April 2020 On 4 April, CM Kejriwal announced that people who don't have ration card can avail free ration from fair price shops.
Quarantine Strategy
Delhi government issued an order for asymptomatic patients making seven days’ home isolation mandatory for all asymptomatic individuals arriving in the city via planes and trains. For symptomatic individuals, immediate Covid testing on arrival, institutional quarantining till the result is out, moving to a hospital or a COVID-19 Care Center depending on symptoms if positive, and home isolation for 14 days in case of a negative result.Sanitation Strategy
RWAs undertook regular sanitazation drives with the help of the civic bodies, ensured social distancing, distributed masks and reined in those who were repeatedly violating norms.Immediate Relief
On 23 March, the CM of Delhi had announced that 4 lakh people will get free food in Delhi from 24 March.On 4 April, the Delhi Government had initiated to provide free food for 6.5 lakh people including distress migrant workers who are jobless in current lockdown. To provide food across the all areas of Delhi, to maintain physical distance, hygiene and sanitation, Govt. had converted night shelters and schools into free food distribution centers.
On 5 April, it was reported that out of 71 lakh ration card holders in Delhi, 60% had received ration. As per the government till 5 April, 50,000 to 60,000 people who do not have ration cards, have applied for coupons to avail 5 kg of wheat, rice and sugar as free of cost. Some people complained about distribution, in a video conference with area MLAs including other party. Kejriwal requested that they should reach out to people in distress and help them register to avail ration. The Delhi government started issuing e-coupons to those without ration cards as well.
On 21 April, since 38 lakh people who didn't have ration card applied for ration, the government announced it would provide free ration to 31 lakh people. Delhi CM conveyed that the government was providing half of the total population of Delhi free ration. On 21 April, as conveyed by CM Delhi, each MP, MLA of Delhi will get 2000 food coupon for their constituency to distribute to poor who don't have any documents like ration card or Adhar card.
As one time financial help, Delhi govt had announced to support affected transport service provider like Auto, E-Rickshaw, Rural transport Vehicle and Gramin seva of Delhi Rs 5,000/- each to their bank account who will apply with their current driving licence of Para-Transit vehicles and valid badge
Delhi CM had announced a financial support of Rs 1 crore for the family of any deceased health staff who had died while dealing with coronavirus cases in Delhi. He had mentioned them as "not less than warrior" and this support as tribute to their noble service.
On 12 May, PM had announced combined stimulus package of Rs 20 lakh crore to restore economical condition of India due to COVID-19 pandemic, which is as per UN economic expert is "impressive" and largest package among developing countries.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Delhi launched delhifightscorona.in, a website dedicated to COVID-19 related information. The website has details on containment zones and hotspots, testing facilities, key locations, e-pass procurement and relevant FAQs. It also includes locations of all grocery shops in Delhi, temporary relief centres and hunger relief centres.Criticism of government
As per some leading media outlets in India, Delhi Government may have hidden many of the deaths. The central government run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and AIIMS have accused the present state government of not showing the true figures. The death toll as per some estimates could run well into 900+Testing
On 13 April, in Delhi 14,036, COVID-19 testing had been done in which positive cases are 1,154 in total and percentage wise its 8.22%. Population of Delhi is 201,78,879 falls under category of the states having population 11 to 37 million and till 13 April 2020, 696 test/million had been conducted in Delhi which is second highest after Kerala in this category.On 21 April, the Delhi Govt. announced free COVID-19 test for media persons in Delhi after the incident of some journalists in Mumbai tested positive.
As of , in Delhi COVID-19 testing had been done in which positive cases are
| Total | Positive | Negative | Pending | |
| Govt. Labs | 19893 | 1875 | 15848 | 1881 |
| Private labs | 6734 | 281 | 5962 | 473 |
| Total | 26627 | 2156 | 21810 | 2354 |
Testing Statistics
Treatment
- 13 April, ICMR requested researcher to give a clinical trial on the critically ill patient of COVID-19 using convalescent plasma therapy.
- 15 April, after a meeting Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal had declared Delhi may use plasma technique to combat COVID-19. He mentioned that it will be on a trial basis with proper guideline.
- 20 April, a 49-year-old, critically ill patient of COVID-19 who was on ventilator support is out from ventilator after receiving plasma therapy. This is the first successful trial of plasma therapy in India.
- 24 April, as per feedback of CM Delhi, plasma therapy has been tried on 4 patients in LNJP hospital, all of them had responded positively. Two of them might get released from the hospital very shortly. Delhi Government seeking permission from Central Government to apply same therapy to all serious patients.
- June 3 the Delhi Health Department ordered three hospitals in the national capital to provide 10 per cent of their beds to COVID-19 patients of Economically Weaker Sections free of cost.
- 5 July India's first plasma bank to treat COVID-19 patient had become operational at Delhi. Plasma bank set up was needed to have systematic donation from volunteers who have recently recovered from COVID-19 and fulfilled eligibility criteria.
| Name of The COVID Hospital | Total No. of positive cases including patient of I and V | No. of positive cases in ICU | No of positive cases on Ventilator |
| LNH | 732 | 37 | 1 |
| RGSSH | 167 | 39 | 0 |
| LHMC | 37 | 3 | 0 |
| RML | 87 | 7 | 2 |
| SJH | 244 | 31 | 6 |
| AIIMS | 702 | 17 | 11 |
| Apollo Hospital | 112 | 13 | 5 |
| Max Hospital | 193 | 32 | 4 |
| Sir Ganga Ram Kolmet Hospital | 31 | 3 | 1 |
| Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital | 97 | 12 | 7 |
| Maha Durga Cheritable trust | 85 | 9 | 3 |
| Batra Hospital | 54 | 10 | 0 |
| Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh | 39 | 3 | 2 |
| Venkateshwara Hospital | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Manipal Hospital | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Other Pvt. Hosp | 119 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2748 | 219 | 42 |
| Name of COVID Health Centre | Total No. of positive cases as of 1 June |
| Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College | 60 |
| Nehru Homeopathic Medical College& Hospital | 37 |
| Choudhary Braham Prakash Ayurvedic Charak Sansthan | 67 |
| Total | 164 |
| Name of COVID care centre | Total No. of positive cases as of 1 June |
| Terapanth Bhawan | 81 |
| DDA Flats Narela | 68 |
| DUSIB Flats Sultanpuri | 91 |
| GBSSS No. 3, Badarpur | 55 |
| Mandoli | 158 |
| 75 | - |
| DUSIB flats Sec 16 Dwarka | 35 |
| YMCA | 78 |
| Ginger Hotel | 31 |
| Total | 672 |
Impact
Education
As of 6 March 2020 all primary schools were closed by Delhi Govt till 31 March 2020.Events not Held
On 6 March, in fear of COVID-19, Fashion Design Council of India had postpone their show till further notice. The 2020 ISSF World Cup has been postponed which was scheduled to be held in May 2020. On 14 March 2020 Badminton World Federation had also postpone their all tournaments due to same reason.National Commission for Protection of Child Rights appealed to organisation not to feed children on road since they are more vulnerable to virus because of their poor nutrition levels and need shelter, health care with the food. They requested to send them to nearest shelter.
Hotspot
- On 26 March, Delhi Government had started declaring hotspot area starting from few places of Dilshad garden.
- 14 April after adding eight new hotspots, now total hotspot numbers are 55 in Delhi.
- 15 April after adding two more places, total hotspot numbers are 57.
- 19 April now there are total 77 containment zones and all 11 districts of Delhi are declared as hotspots as conveyed by Delhi CM
- 21 April the number of containment zones rises to 87
- 28 April after adding two more places, total containment zones rises to 100.
- S refers to sealing the immediate area,
- H refers to home quarantine to all people living in the area,
- I refers to isolation and contact tracing of people,
- E refers to essential supply of commodities,
- L refers to local sanitization and
- D refers to door to door health check of people in the area.