Lucknow, Aug 12 (IANS): Lucknow has recorded an all-time high of 831 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, as it crossed the 14,000 mark. Medical experts have said that if immediate steps are not taken the state capital may soon cross the 1,000-mark in a day.

Tuesday's figure took the caseload to 14,221 since the outbreak on March 11, of which 42 per cent (6,043 cases) have been reported till date in August.

About 7,317 patients have also recovered till date, but since the transmission rate is higher than recovery, active patients have swelled to 6,743. Though asymptomatic cases are allowed home isolation, the increase in active cases added to the pressure on Covid hospitals.

Prof T.N. Dhole, senior virologist and ex-professor at SGPGI, said moisture in the atmosphere in monsoon is abetting the spread of the virus.

"The surge will continue and we may see more than 1,000 cases daily by August end. The transmission rate would peak in October," he explained.

Experts cited three main reasons behind the spike -- rainy season, negligence of safety protocol and delay in contact tracing.

However, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Rajendra Prasad Singh denied laxity in contact tracing. "More cases are being detected because we have doubled our testing capacity to 5,000 daily which is double in comparison to July," he said.

King George's Medical Unit, medicine head and in charge of Covid unit, Prof Virendra Atam said, "I see people across the city crowding markets without social distancing and masks. Hand hygiene is also being neglected which explains the spread of the virus."