The number of Coronavirus cases crossed the 5,000 mark in East Singhbhum district in the last 24 hours, the tally notched up exactly 102 days after the first two cases were reported on May 12.

Given the steady rise in the number of cases, the district administration has decided to set up 11 permanent sample collection centres.

"One of the permanent sample collection centres will be somewhere in Jamshedpur. The others will be set up in as many blocks in the district,” East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar told The Telegraph Online on Sunday.

“Those who will feel the need to get tested for Covid can turn up at the sample collection centres. These centres will most likely start functioning from Wednesday," he added.

During the past 24 hours, 266 samples were tested for the presence of coronavirus, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the district to 5,157 as of Saturday night. Of these, 2,603 people have recovered, while 2,422 are still under treatment. Till date, 151 people have died as a result of the virus.

Superintendent of Ghaghidih Central Jail Narendra Kumar Singh said 38 inmates had tested positive. “On Thursday, a dozen people, including three convicts, had tested positive in the jail. The process of screening infected inmates is on," he said.

Most of the new cases recorded in the district in the past 24 hours were from Ghaghidih Central Jail.

A senior health department official pointed out that the number of cases had shot up to over 5,000 because people were reluctant to wear masks and adhere to social distancing norms.

"Most people who are out, either in the market or on the streets, are violating social distancing norms. Shops are crowded with customers, roadside eateries are also crowded and at most places, people are not wearing masks properly," he said.