THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state reported its highest tally so far of 39 Covid-19 cases on Friday, of which 34 people are from Kasaragod.

The total number of cases reported in the state went up to 176, of whom 164 are under treatment. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the other cases reported on Friday include two in Kannur and one each in Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kollam. As many as 1,10,299 people are under surveillance, of whom 616 are in isolation wards of various hospitals.

The situation, particularly in Kasaragod, is grave with worries over more people coming into contact with those tested positive for the virus now, Vijayan said. “This is an hour of crisis and we have to overcome this… All precautions and safety measures have to be maintained… The government alone cannot fight this crisis and we need the support of people,’’ he said.

Warning of strict action against those defying quarantine guidelines in Kasaragod, he said restrictions would be tightened in the district. The results of 215 samples from the district are yet to come. The Kannur medical college hospital and Kasaragod Central University will be converted into Covid treatment centres.

Meanwhile, for the first time, all mosques in the state closed doors to believers for Friday mass prayers. Instead, they offered prayers at homes with family. All major Muslim organisations had asked their followers to co-operate with the government’s efforts to check the spread of Covid 19.

The CM, in a video message, assured those under quarantine that the government was with them to help survive the isolation period. “The government is very much concerned about your physical and mental wellbeing, and measures like placing you in quarantine are intended to help you come back in full health,” he said.

Vijayan said non-cooperation with quarantine could be considered a crime against mankind. The society and the future will assess them as one who endangered society with their laxity. “Instead, you should make the isolation period meaningful with good thoughts and reading. This could be a great opportunity to gain the mental strength required to make our future life much more creative and active,” he said.