Delhi recorded its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The city recorded 8,593 new virus cases, 1,365 cases more than that reported on the previous day. 85 people died of the virus on Thursday, PTI reported.

The new cases have pushed the city’s total tally to reach 4,59,975, according to the latest health department bulletin. 7,228 people have died of the disease in the national capital.

Delhi’s previous highest single-day spike of 7,830 cases was recorded on Tuesday. The only time it recorded a higher number of deaths was on June 16 when the city witnessed 93 deaths.

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These fresh cases came out of 64,121 tests — 19,304 RT-PCR and 44,817 rapid antigen — conducted the previous day. This is the highest number of RT-PCR tests conducted in a day till date, PTI quoted the latest health department bulletin.

The city’s positivity rate stood at 13.4%, it said.

The active cases tally on Wednesday rose to 42,629 from 41,385 the previous day, the bulletin said.

As per the latest serological survey carried out in Delhi, one in four of the 15,015 people tested, had developed antibodies for SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, PTI reported. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters that the third peak of the spread of COVID-19 in the national capital has been longer than the previous peaks but it may subside in the next few days.

The number of containment zones in Delhi increased to 4,016 on Wednesday from 3,947 on Tuesday, the bulletin said.

The number of people in home isolation increased to 24,435 from 24,178 the previous day, it said.

Delhi is facing twin challenges in the form of air pollution and coronavirus pandemic. 

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The sudden spike in COVID-19 cases comes amid the festive season. While Durga Puja celebrations ended on October 25, Diwali and Chhath Puja are days away.

The National Centre for Disease Control, in a report drafted recently, had warned that Delhi needs to be prepared for about 15,000 fresh cases of COVID-19 per day taking into account the upcoming winter season, related respiratory problems, large influx of patients from outside and festive gatherings.