Two personnel in Himachal CM’s security squad test positive; 180 new infections take tally to 3,816
Two personnel in Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur’s security squad have tested positive for Covid-19.
One of them is the driver of the pilot vehicle in the CM’s motorcade, while the other is a gunman, officials said.
They were part of the security squad during the chief minister’s travel from Kangra to Jwalamukhi on August 7 and then moved to Una. Thakur’s Una tour was cancelled so both of them joined back duty in Shimla.
The chief minister was on a tour to Kangra from August 6 to 8. The health authorities have now started contact tracing. BJP workers had flouted social distancing norms during the chief minister’s visit.
The party workers had gathered in large number at places the CM visited during his tour and many of them were not even wearing masks.
Veteran BJP leader Shanta Kumar had advised the chief minister to avoid field visits and follow social distancing norms strictly.
Besides the two security personnel, two new Covid-19 patients were reported in Shimla. A youngster admitted at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, tested positive, while a migrant labourer from Bihar was found infected with coronavirus in Rohru sub division.
Forty patients who were admitted in the Medical Ward of IGMC have been isolated after the youth was found positive and ward has been sealed.
STEEPEST SPIKE OF 180 IN 24 HOURS
A total of 180 people have tested positive in the state since in last 24 hours taking the state’s tally to 3,816. Twenty-eight cases were recorded on Wednesday night and 152 today.
On Wednesday state witnessed steepest spike of 153 case.
Sixty-nine cases have been recorded in Kullu, 19 in Hamirpur, 18 in Una, 14 in Mandi, 13 in Chamba, 10 in Kinnaur and Solan, 9 eaqch in Sirmaur and Shimla, seven in Bilaspur, and two in Kangra.
Most of the sixty nine people tested positive in Kullu are farm labourers who were here for apple season. They were in institutional quarantine.
Ten people tested positive in Kinnaur were primary contacts of a Covid positive couple back from Delhi.
The infected people had attended the last rites of a family member of the couple on August 2.
The couple had returned from Delhi in the first week of July and tested negative after completing quarantine. They tested positive when a retest was done two days ago.
The health authorities have now started rigorous contact mapping.
In Palampur a former BJP block president has tested positive. He had also met Rajya Sabha member Indu Goswami recently. However, Goswami’s first Covid-19 report is negative.
The total tally of coronavirus cases in the state has climbed to 3,816 with 1,328 active cases and 2,435 recoveries.
Solan is the worst-hit district with 913 cases followed by Kangra at 554, Sirmour 471, Hamirpur 389, Una 312, Mandi 287, Chamba 267, Shimla 216, Kullu 190, Bilaspur 155, Kinnaur 58 and Lahaul-Spiti four.
17th DEATH
Himachal also recorded 17th death due to the virus on Thursday. The deceased, aged 68, was diabetic and also suffering from hypertension. He was shifted from Zonal Hospital to Lala Bahadur Shashtri Government Medical College, Nerchowk a day ago.
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