'Covid cases rising but no need to panic, hospitalisation low': Arvind Kejriwal

The city has also reported the second-highest cases of the 'highly transmissible' Omicron strain after Maharashtra.

In an address to the media, Kejriwal said: "COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in Delhi, but there is no need to panic. Currently, the active cases in the city are 6,360. Today, 3,100 new cases are expected. Only 246 hospital beds were occupied yesterday and all the cases are mild and asymptomatic."

"As of now, only 82 oxygen beds in hospitals are occupied. Delhi government is prepared will 37,000 beds. I just want to tell you that all new cases are with mild symptoms, asymptomatic, so there is no need to panic," the Chief Minister said.

He also presented data to show that despite an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, bed occupancy in hospitals is even less than one percent.

Delhi was one of the worst hit by last year's deadly second wave of coronavirus that left its health infrastructure crippled.

However, the CM cautioned people not to drop their guard as active cases rose from around 2,000 on Dec 29 to 6,000 on Jan 1.

Delhi recorded a massive surge in infections on Saturday with 2,716 fresh cases, the highest since May 21 and a 51 percent jump from Friday.