Coimbatore: The district recorded 81 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the tally to 56,624. This is the second highest single-day spike in cases in the district this year since January 1, when 82 people had tested positive for the virus.
With only 54 patients getting discharged from treatment centres, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the district has shot up to 448.
In the wake of state-wide spike in cases, chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan has instructed all district collectors to crack down on public functions, if conducted by not adhering to Covid-19 precautions.
District collector K Rajamani said, “The daily Covid-19 count has increased to 800 from less than 400 in the state. The district too has recorded 81 cases today (Tuesday), compared to 44 to 45 cases a day till March. People need to understand the seriousness of following Covid-19 protocols. We need to curb the spread.”
As part of enforcing the standard operating procedures, he said people not wearing masks at public places, election meetings and campaigns, and functions like weddings, would be fined.
“This is to ensure that no one is stepping outside without a mask. Unless the public cooperate by following hand washing and sanitizing, and face mask rules, it will be difficult to control the increasing numbers,” the collector said. Health officers said small family clusters were a major contributor to the single-day spike in cases. Three family clusters with four cases each were seen on the day too.
“We can only advise people with symptoms to isolate themselves within their houses and get tested. People have to realise their responsibilities. Almost all family clusters have a history of travel or attending a public function recently,” the collector said.
Since hospitals are also a source for infection, they have been instructed to sanitise and disinfect surfaces and floors often, as they did during August-September last year, when the caseload was at its peak.
The city corporation has collected a fine of Rs 63,800 from 319 people for not wearing face masks and Rs 6,700 from shops for their failure to ensure that customers were following the Covid norms. The violations were mostly reported from the east zone, followed by the north and west zones.