NEW DELHI: Delhi now has less than 100 ICU beds for coronavirus patients, said CM Arvind Kejriwal. Virtually addressing the people of Delhi on Sunday, the Chief Minister said the national capital is witnessing an upward trajectory in terms of new confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Hospital beds in Delhi reserved for Covid-19 patients are filling up rapidly. “Positivity rate increased from 24 per cent to 30 per cent in the last 24 hours,” he stated.

At least 1,800 of the total 10,000 hospital beds in Delhi have been reserved for Covid-19 patients.

"I request the central government to reserve at least 7,000 hospital beds for the treatment of coronavirus patients," said Delhi CM Kejriwal.

The Chief Minister also said that more than 6,000 oxygenated beds will be set up across Delhi over the next two-three days. These beds will be made available at the Covid Care centres at Yamuna Sports Complex, Commonwealth Games Village, and the facility at Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Chhatarpur.

A majority of Covid-19 patients need high-flow oxygen. Arrangements are being made to that effect, the Delhi CM went on to add.

There is also a shortage of oxygen in Delhi’s hospitals, CM Kejriwal said. A private hospital informed the Delhi government that a disaster owing to lack of oxygen was averted last night, said the Chief Minister.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he spoke to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday evening and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday morning to convey these concerns.

While thanking the central government for its support, he said Delhi needs more hospital beds and a stable supply of liquid medical oxygen.

“The weekend curfew is getting public support and I thank the people of Delhi,” CM Arvind Kejriwal said.

In a bid to break the chain of transmission, the Delhi government is enforcing a weekend curfew. Essential services have been exempted from these restrictions.

On Saturday, Delhi recorded 24,375 new confirmed cases of Covid-19. This was the national capital's highest single-day tally since the beginning of the pandemic last year.