​50% reduction in number of Delhi-NCR households with someone down with flu/viral symptoms

September 9, 2022, New Delhi: Positivity rate of Covid in Delhi, according to official government data, has come down sharply from 20% in early August, to 1.7% currently, but the fear of Covid and its variants spreading persists. COVID combined with viral fever, swine flu and even dengue circulating had led to a large number of households having one or more individuals unwell from mid-July to mid-August.

Thankfully, there is a let up in the number​​ of people falling ill due to viral fever in September. A follow-up survey by LocalCircles has revealed that as against 8 in 10 households having one or more family members falling sick due to viral or other infection in August, the number of people having flu/viral fever symptoms has dipped in September to over 4 in 10 households.

Over 4 in 10 households of Delhi NCR surveyed have had one or more individuals down with viral like symptoms in the last 30 days

To the survey question “how many individuals do you have in your household in Delhi/NCR who either in the last 30 days or currently have one or more flu/viral fever symptoms like fever, runny nose, cough, headache, bodyache, etc.” 29% out of 6,405 respondents revealed the number to be four or more individuals, 7% stated 2-3 individuals in their household, while another 7% claimed one person in their household. The fact that the number of people falling ill due to flu/viral fever has come down substantially is good news. It must be noted though that caution and adhering to COVID norms is still need of the hour given that BA.2.75 and its new mutation BA.2.75.2 (one of the most immune evasive strains reported to date) has just started spreading in both Delhi and Haryana in India.

​50% reduction in number of Delhi-NCR households who have one or more individuals down with flu/viral symptoms from August to September

With Delhi and NCR comprising of 5 cities and people commuting from one to the other regularly for work, school, family, social events, it is generally only a matter of a few days before a COVID variant like BA.2.75.2 is likely to spread to other cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram.

Compared to the previous LocalCircles survey, the number of households free of any viral infection/flu symptoms have risen from just 15% in August 2022 to 50% in September, but what could be worrying is that as against 22% households having four or more individuals unwell, the percentage of such households has risen to 29% in September, showing quarantine protocols are not being followed. There is also a huge dip in the number of households having 2-3 individuals unwell – from 54% in August, the percentage has come down to 7% in September. The health scenario seems to be improving and coming closer to that in August 2021 when 59% households were found to be free of flu/ viral infection, 11% had one individual unwell, 11% had 2-3 members unwell, and another 11% had four or more members unwell.

In summary, the latest LocalCircles survey shows that there is a 50% reduction is number of Delhi NCR households with someone down with flu or viral fever type symptoms. However, 4 in 10 households still have some one sick. With festive season on the horizon and the new immune evasive and most infectious BA.2.75.2 COVID variant now circulating in Delhi, the need of the hour is to continue following COVID norms of mask and social distancing, minimizing exposure to crowded space and ensuring good ventilation if socializing or operating indoors with a high number of people.