Agra, Jun 18 (IANS): Agra district administrators and the city medical fraternity are worried by the spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, after the lockdown was lifted.

In the past 24 hours, there have been three deaths and 19 new cases. The latest tally is: 70 deaths, 1,107 cases. District Magistrate P.N. Singh confirmed that 892 people had been discharged after recovery. The number of active cases is 142. A total of 17,685 samples had been collected.

Senior officials admitted that the number of active cases had declined earlier, but now in the last fortnight, a fresh spurt has been noticed. However, the strategy was being revised and fresh inputs added, the officials said. The influx of migrant workers was the only new element, but it is yet to be established what has been the contribution of the outsiders in the district.

The chief fear of the administrators right now was the imminent monsoon, which could further compound the grave situation. Energy secretary, the new nodal officer, M. Devraj has had wide ranging consultations in the past two days and has sought the active involvement of the elected representatives in implementing the guidelines by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

In neighbouring Mathura district, the number has gone up to 204, while Firozabad reported 24 new cases and Mainpuri 15.

The Mathura administration has decided not to give permission for the annual five-day 'Mudiya Poonau' festivities and 'parikrama' of the holy Goverdhan Parbat that draws around ten million pilgrims every year.