New Delhi: Reiterating that the national capital has already hit the stage of community transmission of coronavirus disease, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who resumed working from today after defeating the highly contagious virus, said the city-state would have to be "watchful" even if the number of infected cases has come down considerably in the past week.
Expressing satisfaction over the overall situation concerning the pandemic in Delhi, Jain told ETV Bharat here that "things have improved considerably in the past weeks but that doesn't mean that we can lower our guards".
"I have been saying that the capital city has hit the stage of community transmission as far as the coronavirus is concerned but the World Health Organisation has its own method and criterion and it would decide accordingly," he said, adding that during last month the situation was as if only Delhi had coronavirus number increasing but now more and more cases are being reported from other parts of the country.
"So, no one can say or predict anything about it," he said, underlining that people must follow the guidelines and stay safe.
On what message would he give to people after recovering from the disease that has disrupted the whole world, the minister said one must not panic as it can only be defeated with a positive mindset.
"Don't panic and be in a good state of mind. You would overcome it," he said.
Touching upon the issue of him being shifted to a private hospital even if his government repeatedly claimed that the government-run hospitals were as good as the private hospitals, the Delhi Health Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur, where he was admitted initially was yet to obtain permission for plasma transfusion, and since his condition had worsened he was shifted to a private hospital which had the facility working.
Also Read: 41 nabbed for partying in Delhi bar amid pandemic
Jain (55), who had tested Covid-19 negative initially, was shifted to Max Hospital in Saket and administered plasma therapy after his condition worsened.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal welcomed him back to the office, tweeting, “Our Health Minister Satinder Jain has recovered. He will join work from today. He was always on the field visiting hospitals and meeting health workers and patients. He contracted corona. After one month, he joins back today. Welcome back Satinder and best wishes!”.
According to the Union Health Ministry data, Delhi recorded 1,211 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and it is the lowest in over a month. Thirty one deaths were also recorded. The total number of coronavirus cases in the city stands at 1,22,793. The death toll due to the disease has gone up to 3,628.
