After a dip during the lockdown period, the number of cases has begun to hit a new high with infections going past a steady 600 for consecutive days till Saturday, which saw a count of 656 positive cases. Albeit, it dropped slightly to record 596 new cases on Sunday. With an upward spiral, the number of active cases in the district has shot up to 4,981 persons taking the total tally of infections so far to 30,314. “One of the primary reasons for the steady zoom in infections could be due to return of workers from across Tamil Nadu and from other states,” said an official.

All the 100 beds in ICU COVID-19 care ward, out of the total 450 in ESI hospital are full with patients undergoing treatment with critical care. A few days ago, a 73-year-old patient from Avinashi with co-morbidities couldn’t be admitted in ESI and was taken to a private hospital as there was no bed vacant.

District Collector K Rajamani said that efforts have been taken to increase the bed strength in ESI hospital to treat patients requiring oxygen support.