Coronavirus: Delhi govt to scale up testing, seeks more PPE kits; 30 fresh cases

The Delhi government has decided to conduct large-scale testing for coronavirus so that infected people are identified and isolated at the earliest, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Monday, asserting that this will ensure containment of the disease in the national capital.

The number of coronavirus cases rose by 30 to 532 on Monday in Delhi. So far, Delhi has reported seven fatalities.

Addressing an online briefing, the chief minister said that in the last few days, cases of coronavirus have suddenly spiked in Delhi and one of the reasons behind it is the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin.

Kejriwal said of 523 cases, 330 are from the Tablighi Jamaat's Nizamuddin centre, which has emerged as a major hotspot for the infection not only in Delhi but in the country.

Scaling up testing will ensure containment of the deadly disease in the national capital, he said.

"Our testing capacity around March 25 was 100-125 people per day, which increased to 500 people per day after April 1. We are now reaching a capacity of around 1,000 tests per day," he said.

The Centre had allotted 27,000 PPE kits for Delhi, Kejriwal said.

The alleged lack of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers also led to exchange of words on Twitter between Kejriwal and BJP parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir.

The chief minister said money is not a problem but the availability of protective equipment for healthcare personnel is, after Gambhir accused the Delhi government of not accepting Rs 50 lakh from his MPLADS fund to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

In a tweet, Gambhir, who is a member of Lok Sabha from East Delhi, said the "massive egos" of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia did not allow them to take Rs 50 lakh from his Local Area Development fund.

"CM @ArvindKejriwal & his Dy say funds are needed. Though their massive egos didn't allow them to take50 L from my LAD fund earlier, I pledge 50 L more so that innocents don't suffer! 1 CR would at least solve urgent need for masks &PPE kits for days Hope they prioritize Delhi," Gambhir tweeted.

Responding to it, Kejriwal said, "Gautam ji, thank u for ur offer. The problem is not of money but availability of PPE kits. We wud be grateful if u cud help us get them from somewhere immediately, Del govt will buy them. Thank u."