Testing ramped up amid uptick in Covid cases in Himachal
There has been an uptick in coronavirus cases amid heavy tourist influx in Himachal Pradesh, prompting health authorities to issue directions to ramp up testing across the hill state.
There has been an uptick in coronavirus cases amid heavy tourist influx in Himachal Pradesh, prompting health authorities to issue directions to ramp up testing across the hill state.
Till June 15, the state had recorded 646 new cases, while five patients had succumbed to the infection. As many as 289 new infections were recorded over the last week, surpassing the Covid count for May (248). The state had 50 active cases in May-end, which has increased to 292.
On Saturday, June 25 as many as 63 new cases were reported, the highest in over two months. Since the Covid outbreak in March 2020, as many as 2,85,059 people have contracted the virus, of which 4,122 have succumbed.
Kangra, which is worst-affected district, recorded 267 infections in June, followed by 69 in Shimla, 68 in Mandi, 47 in Hamirpur, and 36 in Solan. At 119, Kangra also has the highest number of active cases.
Of the five fatalities reported this month, two each were reported in Chamba and Kangra and one in Shimla.
“Covid cases are on the rise across the country, including Himachal as economic activities and tourism, have returned to normal,” said a health department spokesperson, warning people against complacence.
Given the rise in the cases, principal secretary (health) Subhasish Panda, during a review meeting on Saturday, directed all chief medical officers, medical college principals, medical superintendents and district surveillance officers to ramp up testing.
He also urged health service providers, frontline workers and all eligible citizens to get a precautionary dose of the vaccine.