Delhi recorded 1,527 new Covid-19 cases on December 26, a 33% increase from the previous day, along with a positivity rate of 27.77%. Two more related deaths increased the capital’s death count to 26,549. Yesterday’s jump was the first time Delhi reported more than 1,000 cases in seven months. Nationally, India reported 10,158 new cases in the 24 hours ending December 26, up from 7,830 cases the day before. Authorities have said that the increase is due to the B.1.1.529 variant. Health ministry sources have said that it is not necessary to worry as hospitalisations will remain low. The sources predict that the rise in infections will continue for the next 10-12 days and subsequently decline, and the Covid pandemic has entered its endemic phase in the country. The endemic phase is when the infection is confined to a specific region, instead of spreading worldwide.