Panaji, Aug 28 (IANS): Goa may witness a spike in Covid-19 cases because social distancing norms were flouted during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.

"I had urged people to avoid gatherings during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. But people did not wear masks, there were groups of 100-200 people assembled together. As a result there may be a spike now," Rane told a press conference in Panaji.

"Many people trolled me for urging caution. But that does not make a difference to me," Rane said.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations began in Goa on August 22. On August 9, the Goa government had issued SOPs for the festival urging people not to engage in public celebration of the event as far as possible and avoid visiting homes on the occasion.

But social distancing norms were violated in market places, at Ganesh idol immersion points in many places in the state. 15,483 persons in the state have tested positive out of which 3,445 are active cases. 171 persons have died in Goa after testing positive for coronavirus.