1,54,171 patients recovered and the number of active cases stands at 14,793 in Delhi.(Representational)

New Delhi:

More than 2,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Delhi over the last 24 hours, in a first since July 10. The number was hovering close to 2,000 yesterday, with 1,954 people testing positive for the highly contagious virus. The surge comes as Delhi is getting ready to resume metro rail services, which cater to an estimated 15 lakh people a day in highly crowded conditions.

Data from Delhi government showed that in the last 24 hours, 2,024 cases of coronavirus were reported, which pushed the total in the national capital to 1,73,390. Twenty-two patients had died, taking the number of fatalities in the disease to 4,426.

So far, 1,54,171 patients recovered and the number of active cases stands at 14,793. Across the city, 820 containment zones have been marked.

According to Delhi government's health bulletin, 6,881 RT-PCR tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours. The number of Rapid Antigen Tests was 13,555.

In July, the Delhi government claimed that the city was about to turn the corner in its battle against Covid as the number of fresh cases dipped.  Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had thanked the people for their cooperation. But the daily records showed that Delhi had stayed above 1,000 for most of the last 50-odd days -- a situation that experts attributed to the slow lifting of restrictions and increased movement of people.

On Saturday, the Centre announced the guidelines for Unlock4, the fourth phase of relaxations that would include resumption of metro services and public gatherings in a limited fashion.

The numbers in Delhi reflect a surge across the country, which logged close to 80,000 cases this morning as tally of the last 24 hours. It was a record spike -- the US, the nation hit worst by the virus registered the previous high of 77,000-plus cases.

India has now logged over 35 lakh cases, three lakh short of Brazil, which is second among nations hit worst by the virus.