Unfavourable environmental conditions led to spike in Covid cases: Gujarat govt tells HC A reply affidavit submitted by Principal Pecretary, Health, Jayanti Ravi adds that as of December 18, 18.95 lakh antigen tests were conducted through Dhanvantari Rath or mobile OPD vans. Updated: December 24, 2020 6:40:46 pm Chandigarh reported 27 new cases detected through RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen tests. (Express File Photo: Partha Paul/ Representational) Attributing the spike in Covid-19 cases after Diwali to “unfavourable environmental conditions and increased human interactions”, the Gujarat government has informed the High Court that several semi-government hospitals were instructed to increase capacity. A reply affidavit submitted by Principal Secretary, Health, Jayanti Ravi, on Wednesday before the High Court on measures taken to check the surge in cases in the state after the festive season, stated that Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the health portfolio, had visited Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on November 16 with senior bureaucrats and had held a review meeting.