New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS): As the wrath of Covid-19 continues to grapple the national capital amid Diwali festivities, it confirmed the second-highest single-day fatalities on Saturday. The city recorded as many as 96 deaths and 7,340 new infections out of the 49,645 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

The fatalities recorded were the second-highest in a day coming in parallel to the sharp spike in cases being reported after a months long lull. Delhi has seen an alarming spike in recent weeks, recording more new cases than any other state in the country.

The overall case tally has reached 4,82,170 while the cumulative causality stands at 7,519. In total, 5,42,8,472 tests have been conducted so far in the national capital.

Meanwhile, 7,117 people recovered in the last 24 hours. The national capital's test positivity rate is 14.78 per cent while the case fatality rate stands at 1.56 per cent.

Currently, 8,677 out of 16,636 beds are occupied in the hospitals, 759 out of 8,217 beds in the dedicated Covid Care Centres and 252 out of 562 beds in the dedicated Covid Health Centres. Over 27,428 people are in home isolation. The number of containment zone has been raised to 4,288.

The spike in cases coincide with deepening winters, rising pollution and busy festival season. According to the doctors, cold air is heavier and less mobile, which means viral clouds or viral particles will hover closer to the ground, making it easier to get into one's lungs.

Meanwhile, like every year, people were seen bursting crackers in NCR towns despite the ban on sale and purchasde of firecrackers. The air quality has already deteriorated to 'severe' category with the real-time AQI showing a reading of 457 at 11 pm.

The scenario has also put pressure on the hospitals where more than half the available beds are already occupied.