Death and data: Are Delhi's numbers for Covid-19 outbreak believable?

National capital is reporting hospitalisations like other cities, but the proportion of people requiring in ICU bed is much higher.

Delhi’s numbers for Covid-19 deaths do not match records from cremation grounds handled by the municipal corporations. Media reports suggest that Delhi may be under-reporting coronavirus deaths by a factor of two.

A closer look at the numbers reveals many more data anomalies in the government’s statements. A Business Standard analysis finds that Delhi may be under-reporting the number of cases as well.

On Thursday, the national capital became the second city, after Bengaluru, to record over one lakh active infections. The city has been recording 23,000-25,000 cases daily, and recoveries have not kept pace.

Hospitalisations have been