text: NEW DELHI: In the wake of a surge in Covid cases in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the government is well prepared to handle as many as one lakh cases per day, should the situation arise.
  Addressing a press conference here, Kejriwal said” “We have created capacity to conduct three lakh Covid tests daily. We are prepared to handle one lakh cases if such a situation arises”.
  The city government is also strengthening its home isolation management protocol to deal with the surge in the cases of Covid, he added.
  The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also appealed to the people with mild symptoms to stay at home instead of running to hospitals. “Under our home isolation module, our healthcare workers will visit patients at their residence, conduct tele-counselling and also provide a kit containing oximeter, medicines to them,” the Chief Minister assured.
  He further said that the Delhi government is also working to increase manpower, stocking medicines for the coming few months. “We are arranging medical oxygen and 15 oxygen tankers will be delivered to us in the next 15 days,” he said.
  The city had recorded the highest number of Covid cases on Wednesday with 125 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in six months.
  With 624 active cases, the national capital now has the highest number of Covid patients in five months.
  As Omicron cases rise steadily in the national capital, the Delhi government today banned all gatherings to celebrate Christmas and New Year. All cultural events and other gatherings have been prohibited, according to an order by the DDMA.
  Delhi has recorded 57 Omicron cases so far, the highest among all states and union territories in India. A total of 213 cases of the highly contagious strain of Covid have been detected in India.