Nilgiris records 35% increase in active cases in a week

Udhagamandalam: The Nilgiris district has registered a 35% rise in the number of active cases of Covid-19 in the past one week.
The total number of active cases recorded on September 3 was 335 and it rose to 453 on Thursday (Sept 10). The tally also rose to 2,128 from 1,720 a week ago. The total number of samples lifted in the district so far has crossed 63,000. Of this, 61,100 samples have tested negative.
With public transport becoming operational for the past few days and tourism being allowed again, officials worry about a second surge in Covid-19 cases in the hill district.
Officials said they are trying their best. People entering the district by public transport or private vehicles have been asked to undergo random testing of swab samples. “There is a cap for e-pass issued to tourists in a day. E-passes for business and work related purposes are issued after proper verification. All these measures are taken in the interest of the public and to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the district,” said an official.
According to officials, in villages, there are not enough takers for social distancing norms, which has become a cause for concern.
Dr P Balusamy, deputy director, public health, said patients are being tested for the virus once again on the sixth day of their admission to a hospital or Covid care centres. If the results are negative, they are sent for home quarantine. If it is positive, patients are treated for five more days at hospitals and later sent for home quarantine.
“We encourage home quarantine for patients if they have a facility at home. As of now, at least 37 covid patients are kept under home quarantine,” Balusamy said.
Patients aged above 60 and with multiple comorbidities are being sent to ESI hospital in Coimbatore. As of now, about 5 patients from the Nilgiris are being treated in the ESI Hospital, the official said.