Shimla | TNR
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has blamed the spread and current spike in Covid cases in Himachal on social functions, marriage ceremonies and feasts held without restrictions in the current situation.
Video conference
In a video conference with DCs and SPs of the state on Thursday, the Chief Minister said rural areas saw a maximum number of Covid cases while cities, including major tourist destinations, reported very few cases.
Thus, tourist arrivals into the state had little or no impact on the spread of the virus, he said. He instructed all DCs and SPs to make contact tracing their focal point of action in view of the current increase in number of cases in the state.
The CM said that there are 2700 in Himachal currently and this definitely was a cause for concern.
Strict orders to increase precaution during apple season
In view of the ongoing apple season in various parts of the state, the Chief Minister has ordered the administration of Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Chamba and Kinnaur to impose strict and appropriate restrictions on commission agents and labourers who were breaking covid rules and roaming around freely without masks, etc in the mandis, which are now operational in most parts of the state.
Govt to consider reopening of schools soon
The Chief Minister said that the government would take all necessary steps to curb the spread of Covid, look into an easing of restrictions and consider reopening of schools soon. He added that the vaccination drive in the state had been highly successful with zero percent wastage.
Govt targets vaccinating all above 18 within 10 days
Thakur pointed out that the target of administering the first dose to people in the districts of Hamirpur, Kullu, Bilaspur, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti had been achieved with a 100 percent coverage.
Now the government’s target is to vaccinate all above 18 years of age within 10 days. 29 per cent of the people in the state have been administered the second dose of vaccination and it is expected that the entire population of Himachal will be vaccinated by November 2021, the Chief Minister stated.
Chief Secretary issues orders to form teams in rural areas
Chief secretary Ram Subhag Singh has issued orders to district officials to strengthen and make panchayat and sub-division level teams more active in view of the spike in Covid cases.
Stressing on the need to formulate micro-level schemes, he ordered that one Covid officer should be appointed for 10 to 12 panchayats.
First dose of vaccination to be administered to all within 4-5 days
Health Secretary Amitabh Awasthi has said that all people in the state would receive the first dose of Corona vaccine within 4-5 days.
At present only 124 people infected with the virus are admitted in hospitals, he said.
