Increase in public movement, negligence of safety norms likely to lead to further rise in COVID-19 infections
The graph of daily COVID-19 cases in Chittoor district has crossed the 1,000-mark for the second consecutive day on Saturday. The active caseload in the district has risen to 4,991 with 1,039 new cases on Saturday, the highest in the state.
increased daily tests
District medical and health officials have increased the number of tests conducted daily from 5,000 last week to close to 10,000 currently, and the number may rise further as infection trends show.
no casualties
A major relief for the officials of the COVID Task Force is that despite the rising graph of cases, there has been no casualty in the recent past in Chittoor district.
But the calm attitude of the people on COVID etiquette and high public agitation during the festival in the district, especially in the border areas with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has made the authorities concerned about a further rise in cases. The Jallikattu version of Chittoor district, known as Pasuvula Panduga, was conducted on a large scale with heavy participation of people in the Kuppam and Chandragiri mandals. Thousands of devotees from other states also arrived in the district for Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival.
A senior medical official, seeking anonymity, said that the public transport system and pilgrimage centers were flouting the COVID guidelines. Though strict instructions were given to commercial establishments not to allow customers without facemasks, no heed was paid to it.
“The same situation prevailed in April last year as well, and the gravity was felt only in May when the casualties started rising. A big ideologue among the public is circling that the current wave is not fatal. This is playing a negative role in preventing the public from following COVID-appropriate behaviour,” the official said.
Meanwhile, officials of the Endowment Department, which administers Sri Varasiddhi Vinayakswamy Devasthanam at Kanipakam near Chittoor, have announced the indefinite closure of the “Annadanam” (free meal scheme) due to the spike in coronavirus infections.
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