Two women Covid patients, both suffering from chronic kidney disease, died yesterday, taking the total number of persons succumbing to the virus to five. As many as 22 cases were reported during the day today, taking the number of positive cases in the stae to 225.

The two deaths took place at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Nerchowk Medical College, Mandi.

A 63-year-old patient of Ratti village in Balh, Mandi, had been under treatment at Nerchowk medical college since May 19 but her condition deteriorated following which she was put on a ventilator.

She was declared dead at 4:15 pm. Dr Devender Sharma, Senior Medical Superintendent, of the medical college, confirmed the death. Her cremation will take place tomorrow.

Another 72-year-old woman died at the IGMC late last night where she had been brought from Hamirpur for dialysis on May 23. The woman, hailing from Dugha in Hamirpur, was a renal patient and had returned with her husband from Jalandhar where they had gone for renal treatment. Her cremation took place at Kanlog. With this, five Covid deaths have taken place in the state.

The US-returned Tibetan was the first victim, followed by a 21-year-old boy from Sarkaghat in Mandi, also a renal patient, who died at the IGMC where he had been brought for dialysis. The third death was that of a Delhi-returned man from Sarkaghat.

6 cases in Shimla

Six Covid cases were reported in Shimla today. These included three youths, in their mid-twenties, who had returned from Mumbai on May 18. They belong to Chopal. They had been in institutional quarantine at Deha government rest house near Matiana.

Day’s fresh cases were six from Shimla, eight Kangra, four Chamba, three Bilaspur and one from Hamirpur. The number of cases may to go up as two trains from Mumbai and Ahmedabad have brought back 1,500 Himachalis.

12 cases in Kangra, Chamba

Dharamsala: Eight more tested positive in Kangra, taking the total number of Covid positive cases in the district to 59. As per information provided by the health authorities here, 39-year-old man and 36-year-old man from Dadh village near Chamunda Devi temple have tested positive. Both had returned from Ahmedabad. Four more persons, who had returned from Mumbai and were in institutional quarantine at Paror in Kangra district, also tested positive.

Meanwhile in Chamba, four, who had returned from Chennai, tested positive.

Baddi woman +ve

• A 23-year-old Baddi resident tested Covid-19 positive at the GMCH, Chandigarh
• She was referred to Chandigarh from health centre, Baddi, on May 22 and delivered a baby on Sunday
• The woman’s mother-in-law and husband were with her
• Her father-in-law is at Kailash Vihar Colony at Baddi and works as a security guard at an industrial unit

Source : The Tribune

The Himachal Government issued guidelines for those travelling to the state by air or rail, making a 14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for those coming from red zones.

As per guidelines issued by the Disaster Management Cell in the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, for all air and rail travellers, air ticket, boarding pass or confirmed ticket will be sufficient to facilitate further movement from the airport or railway station to their destinations. A valid ID proof will have to be shown, wherever needed. However, the entry and exit into or from the state will be allowed only between 7 am and 7 pm.

Those coming from a red zone will be quarantined but have the choice to opt for the paid 14-day quarantine facility while those coming from an orange or green zone will have to stay under 14-day home quarantine. If a person coming from a red zone is in possession of a Covid test certificate by an ICMR-certified centre done within three days and the report is negative, he need not stay in institutional quarantine.

All those entering the state will have to download Arogya Setu App on their phones before boarding a flight or train. All persons, who are placed in institutional quarantine, will have to undergo Covid test between six and 10 day and, if found negative, can be allowed to proceed to their homes.

All those proceeding home after institutional quarantine will have to inform the urban local body or panchayat about their arrival.

Guidelines

• An ID proof will have to be shown, wherever needed
• The entry into the state will be allowed only between 7 am and 7 pm
• Those quarantined will have a choice to opt for the paid 14-day quarantine facility
• Those coming from orange or green zone will have to be home quarantine
• Travellers will have to download Arogya Setu app on their phones

The total number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 185 yesterday, as 17 persons tested positive for the infection. Most of the patients are those who had returned from Mumbai and various states. The fresh cases were reported from Kangra (6), Mandi (5), Solan (4), Shimla (1) and Una (1).

Six reported in Kangra

Dharamsala: The highest number of six cases were reported from Kangra, taking the tally to 49, including 13 cured and one death, in the district. Those who tested positive had arrived from Mumbai on May 18 and had been in quarantine at Paror near Palampur.

They include a 49-year-old man from Palampur, a 50-year-old man from Jaisinghpur, a 70-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man from Lambagaon near Jaisinghpur, and a 44 year-old woman from Bhawarna. Another man (68), who had come from Jalandhar, has also tested positive; he is a resident of Sari Tanda.

As many as 800 persons had arrived in Himachal from Mumbai last night.

Had returned from Bengal

Solan: Five West Bengal returnees, including two brothers, tested positive at Nalagarh, taking the count in Solan district to 19. All five patients, who hail from Mittian, Sarour, Kharopna and Tallow villages in Nalagarh, had returned on May 19.

Solan Medical Officer NK Gupta said they were among 91 others, who had been in institutional quarantine at Ramshehar ever since their return. They are in the age group of 27 to 40 years. Two Covid positive brothers, aged 27 and 29 years, hail from Sarour village.

Kidney patient tests +ve

Hamirpur: A 73-year-old woman from Hamirpur, who along with her husband had come from Jalandhar for dialysis, tested positive at the IGMC, Shimla. Her husband had also tested positive. Now, the total number of Covid cases in Shimla is two — the earlier one is cured.

Source : The Tribune

The highest single-day spike of 46 cases, taking the tally of corona patients to 156, led to panic in the state yesterday. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said, if need be, there would be restricted entry in the state.

Himachal, which was aiming to be corona-free, about 10 days back with only one active case, has witnessed a sudden surge in the cases ever since special trains brought back its residents from Maharashtra, Goa and Chennai. However, most of the patients have returned from Mumbai.

The total number of active cases has shot up to 90 while the number of cured cases is 55. A total of 22,399 persons have tested for corona while 34,734 have been under surveillance.

Most came from Maharashtra

Hamirpur: The highest number of 35 persons tested coronavirus positive in the district, taking the tally of the total patient to 50. Of these, most of the patients had returned from other states, mostly Maharashtra.

The positive cases include a 45-year-old woman from Amned and her son from Bhoranj, while three others are from Hamirpur subdivision — a 63-year-old from Dhgnera (Jhaniyara) village, 51-year-old from Sunwin Saloni village and 21-year-old from Balh. Two persons from Hatali village and three from Gwalpathar village also tested positive. All of them had returned from Mumbai

5 entered Baddi illegally

Solan: Five West Bengal returnees, who had entered the Baddi industrial area illegally in a truck on May 15, tested positive late last evening, taking the tally of positive cases to 14 in Solan district.

Medical Officer Dr NK Gupta said they were in institutional quarantine at Manpura and belonged to Nand and Bari village in Ramshehar tehsil. They were engaged as labourers in Bengal. They had started their journey on May 13, along with 28 others, and their samples were taken on May 19. As many as 54 contacts of the Covid patients have tested negative in their first test.

Kangra count 41

Dharamsala: Six more tested positive in Kangra, taking the total number of cases in the district to 41. The patients had returned on May 18 in a train and had been in institutional quarantine in Paror of Kangra. All of them were symptomatic.

Those who tested positive included 41-year-old woman of Adhwani village near Jwalamukhi, a 54-year driver of Saliali, Nurpur.

Curbs on entry likely

• Chief Minister said, if need be, there would be restricted entry in the state
• Most of the patients had returned from Mumbai
• Patients in Baddi had come from West Bengal
• The state witnessed a sudden surge in the cases ever since special trains brought back its residents

Source : The Tribune

Fifteen more persons tested positive for Covid-19, taking the total tally in Himachal Pradesh to 125. Five persons each from Solan, Kangra and Hamirpur districts have tested positive.

Five persons, who returned from West Bengal, tested positive in Baddi late on Wednesday night, taking the tally of total Covid-19 positive cases in Solan district to 14. These are the first cases to be detected since April 10.

Of the new cases, three persons hail from Nand village, while two are from Bari village in Ramshehar Tehsil of Nalagarh.

All five had returned in a truck without permission and were under institutional quarantine since May 17. There were 59 people in the quarantine centre at the Government Senior Secondary School, Manpura, and the latest coronavirus positive results have created panic in the health staff.

The five persons had begun their journey from West Bengal on May 13 and had arrived here four days later without a pass. All five are men who were working as labourers in West Bengal.

They have been shifted to the Covid-19 care hospital at ESIC, Katha, in Barotiwala. Their samples had been sent for testing on May 19. They are in the age group of 25 to 45 years.

All the nine cases detected in Baddi earlier have been cured.

Meanwhile, two politicians of the BJP distributed fruit at this centre on Wednesday, which was an alarming revealation as it could trigger community spread.

Had returned to Kangra from Mumbai

Dharamsala: Five more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Kangra district late on Wednesday night. All those who tested positive had come back from Mumbai and were under institutional quarantine.

The persons who tested positive are — a 41-year-old woman of village Adhwani near Jawalamukhi, a 54-year-old man of village Saliali in Nurpur, a 24-year-old man from Nagrota Bagwan town, a 57-year-old man from village Kathla in Jaisinghpur Tehsil and a 36-year-old man from Bhawarna.

All five have been shifted to the Covid-19 containment centre at Baijnath. The total number of coronavirus positive cases in Kangra district has gone up to 40.

Five test positive in Hamirpur

Hamirpur: Five more persons, including a woman, tested positive on Thursday, taking the tally of total Covid patients in Hamirpur district to 20.

Of the new cases, four had returned from Mumbai, while one is a primary contact of a coronavirus positive person. All five patients have been shifted to a Covid treatment hospital at Bhota.

Source : The Tribune

The number of coronavirus positive cases in Himachal Pradesh crossed 100 as 12 persons tested positive on Wednesday.

While 11 persons tested positive in Kangra district, one new case was registered in Kullu, taking the total tally to 104.

In Kangra, all the 11 persons had returned from Mumbai on May 18. They were being kept in institutional quarantine. After five persons tested positive in the morning, six new cases were registered later in the day. This is the biggest single day rise in cases in the district.

Of the five persons who tested positive in the morning, three are of a family — mother, son and daughter-in-law — from Jheol village, one is a woman from Lambagaon and one is a 31-year-old man from Jawalamukhi.

Of the six cases detected later, three are of a family — husband, wife and child — from Sari Malog village. A 55-year-old man of village Chanjehari in Bhawarna area, a 21-year-old man from village Kohli in Baijnath area and an eight-year-old girl from Lambagaon village have also tested positive.

All 11 patients were moved to the coronavirus containment centre in Baijnath on Wednesday.

This has taken the total number of coronavirus positive cases in Kangra district to 32, with 25 active cases. There has been one death.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man of Ani area in Kullu district was found Covid-19 positive at the medical college in Mandi.

The man had arrived in Kullu district on May 18 from Mumbai along with nine other persons.

According to the health department in Kullu district, the youth did not come in contact with any person and was under institutional quarantine.

According to the chief medical officer of Kullu, Sushil Chander, all 10 persons were kept at a Covid-19 centre in Kullu. The man had fever for the last few days but was doing well currently. The other nine samples are negative.

Source : The Tribune

Hospitality industry of Kullu-Manali has been shut since March 22 because of Covid-19 threat, which has rendered over two lakh people jobless in the district.

The livelihoods had been affected severely as majority people in Kullu were associated with hospitality industry. They were demanding bailout package from state and central governments for the revival of tourism industry.

The worst affected are those associated with adventure sports activities like river rafting, paragliding, river crossing, mountain hiking besides the tour operators.

Taxi operators, dhaba and restaurant owners, hoteliers, photographers — and village women who used to earn their livelihood by dressing up tourists with local dresses, had been affected badly because of the closure of tourism industry.

With the advent of April every year tourist influx would increase manifold in Kullu-Manali, providing self-employment opportunities for the residents of district. But this time they all are in utter despair because of current crisis.

In Kullu district, more than 320 agencies were registered for paragliding service, while around 400 pilots were providing their service to entertain tourists.

The highest number of cases was reported in Hamirpur, where five persons, who returned home from Mumbai, have tested positive.

Three new cases were reported in Bilaspur which include the wife (36) and son of a positive patient from Hamirpur who had returned from Ahmedabad. The third case in Bilaspur is that of a man from Punjab who returned from Delhi.

The mother of the two-year-old child from Chamba, who was infected by her father, a driver, has also got infected. The wife and five-year-old son of a positive case in Bilaspur also tested positive.

Five persons were tested positive for corona virus in the district today taking the tally of total Covid-19 patients to 15 here in the district. All persons tested positive had come from Mumbai. Three had come on May 14, one on May 12 and one on May 10.

They are one each from Khungal (Kashmir), Chowki Rajputan (Buni) and Gwararu villages and two from Majhog Sultani village. The samples of all these patients were taken on May 16 after health problem.

All five patients have been shifted to Covid-19 dedicated hospital in Bhota.

Source : The Tribune

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said the curfew in Himachal would continue till May 31 in the fourth phase of the lockdown, began today.

In his video address to the people, he said the number of cases had risen and, therefore, the situation was not appropriate to lift the curfew. “It was expected that the number of cases will rise as Himachalis were returning to their native places from red zones across the country”, he said.

The cases had gone up to 80 and this figure could increase further.

Thakur urged residents not to panic as the situation in Himachal was far better than many other states. “My humble request to those returning home is to strictly adhere to home quarantine, while maintaining distance from family members also,” he said.

The safety of 70 lakh people of the state would be ensured only by responsible behaviour of those returning home from other states.

While lauding the service rendered by corona warriors, he wished speedy recovery of the doctors at Tanda medical college and a constable who had got infected while serving corona patients.

A senior Himachal Pradesh Police officer has revealed that Chinese helicopters intruded several km inside Indian airspace in the state on two occasions last month.

Rajesh Dharmani, Superintendent of Police, Lahaul-Spiti district which shares the international border with China, told a section of the media that a Chinese helicopter had entered 12-15 km into India in the Sumdo area on April 11. Then, on April 20 another Chinese helicopter intruded into the same area.

The area in question lies to the south of Demchok in Ladakh, a region that sees significant Chinese activity and incursions. Earlier this month, there were reports of a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh and Sikkim.

A senior officer at Headquarters Western Command, Chandimandir, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, however, declined to comment on the matter, saying that only the central government would respond to reports of any such cross border incident.

He added that all activities along the border are monitored by different agencies regularly and any untoward or unusual incident is reported and shared amongst them as per established protocols. The peacetime management of the border is with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Forces that maintains posts on the zero line.

There have been reported instances of Chinese helicopters violating Indian airspace in Himachal Pradesh earlier. Apart from Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur is the other district in the state that shares borders with China. The Western Command’s formation, 26 Infantry Brigade that is responsible for this area, is headquartered in Pooh, which is about 11 km from the border as the crow flies.

A limited cross-border trade amongst locals on both sides is also conducted through the Sipki La pass along the Sutlej river during summers.

Source : The Tribune

Schools will remain closed till May 31 and summer vacations in colleges will start from May 18 to June 10 and efforts be made to conduct the examinations of undergraduate classes by June-end to declare the results at the earliest and start the new academic session from August 1, said Education Minister Suresh Bharadwaj.

Two new Covid-19 cases were detected in Paonta Sahib, taking the tally of positive cases to four in Sirmaur district.

A 30-year-old woman and her seven-year-old daughter have tested positive for coronavirus.

Random sampling of 64 returnees from various states was conducted and the samples were sent to CRI Kasauli.

The mother and daughter were in home quarantine since their return. They have been sent to Covid care hospital at Sarahan. The DC said that they were asymptomatic.

The woman’s husband, who had not gone to Delhi, would also be tested, while their two-and-a-half-year old son tested negative.

The two previous Covid positive cases detected in Sirmaur have already been cured and were in isolation at Baddi.

One more tests positive for corona in Kangra

Dharamsala: One more person tested positive for coronavirus in Kangra district, taking the total number of positive patients in the district to 17.

The woman had returned from Mumbai in a taxi on May 7. She is a software engineer in Mumbai.

Kangra’s Chief Medical Officer GD Gupta said that the patient was from Gurkhari village near Kangra. She was symptomatic and had herself reported to the health authorities for testing on May 12. She has been shifted to Zonal Hospital, Dharamsala.

Kangra has seen one death, while four persons have been cured. There are 12 active cases.

Source : The Tribune

Five more persons, including a 28-year-doctor from Tanda medical college, tested positive in Kangra district yesterday. The doctor was posted in the Covid ward and was in quarantine.

Himachal Pradesh reported six more coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking the infection tally in the state to 66, a senior health official said.

Two more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Kangra and Hamirpur districts today, taking the tally of patients in the state to 52. In Kangra district, the number of cases has risen to eight — three active cases that have come to light in the last three days, one death and four patients who have been cured.

Kangra DC Rakesh Prajapati said that the person, who tested positive today, belongs to Ghena village in the Baba Baroh area of Kangra district. He used to stay in Delhi in the house of a person who tested positive yesterday in the Badsar area of Hamirpur.

“Yesterday, we got information from the Hamirpur authorities that he was staying in Delhi with the native of Baba Baroh before returning to Kangra on April 23.

He was shifted to the Dharamsala Zonal hospital Friday evening and kept in isolation. He was totally asymptomatic though he had stayed with a coronavirus positive person. Now, that he has tested positive, his family members have also been put in quarantine,” said Prajapati.

The Hamirpur man, who tested positive today, had come from Delhi on May 6 and was admitted to Hamirpur medical college.

55 test negative in Mandi

Mandi: Medical reports of all primary contacts of Covid-19 patients in Mandi district have come out negative, giving a big relief to the health authorities. CMO Jeevanand Chauhan said the test reports of all 55 primary contacts of Covid-19 patients were negative.

Warriors welcomed

Hamirpur: Roses were showered on corona warriors of Dr Radhakrishanan Medical College and Hospital here on Saturday on their return from a dedicated Covid hospital in Bhota. A team of 20 members — doctors, nurses and paramedical staff — arrived at the hospital after 28 days. The team was rushed to the Covid hospital after a patient from Una was sent here. Dr Anil Chauhan, Principal of the college, said the team had to stay in quarantine for 14 days. He added that the medical college had constituted three teams of dedicated staff to serve Covid-19 patients. — OC

Source : The Tribune

Since he had mild symptoms, his sample was taken on May 6 and sent to the Institute of Himalayan Biotechnology, Palampur. The report came as positive today. With this, the tally in the district rose to three. Two have already recovered.

Sources said the man was directed to follow home quarantine, but he was violating norms. He also visited a local barber.

The man lives in a joint family of 11. One of his sisters-in-law is a health worker and performing duty in the area. The movement of the patient has posed the risk for community spread in the area.

The patient has been shifted to Radhaswami Charitable Hospital, Bhota, and the samples of 15 of his primary contacts and 18 secondary contacts had been taken.

DC Harikesh Meena said the Bijhri panchyat had been declared a containment zone while the adjoining area had been notified as a buffer zone till further orders.

He said as the man violated home quarantine rule, action would be taken against him.

2-yr-old Chamba girl tests +ve

Dharamsala: Two-year-old daughter of a corona positive patient in Salooni area of Chamba district has tested positive for Covid 19.

The person was working as a truck driver in Baddi area of Solan district and had returned back to his home in Chamba. On May 5, he tested positive for corona. Though he was asymptomatic, he was tested in random samples taken by the health authorities.

Dr Rajesh Guleri, Chief Medical Officer, Chamba, said samples of all 38 contacts of two corona patients were sent for testing in which 37 have tested negative. But today two-year-old daughter of one of the patients tested positive. He said wife and two other daughters of the corona positive patient have, however, tested negative. Today’s case has taken total number of corona positive cases in Chamba district to eight.

Courier boy afllicted in Kangra

One more person, who had returned to Kangra from Delhi, has tested positive for Covid 19. The person had returned back to his native village Bala in Kangra sub division on April 28. He was working as courier boy in Delhi and had returned back after losing his job there. He had returned to Kangra in car along with two others.

The district administration authorities are now trying to locate and isolate the contacts of person who has tested positive. After this test report the total number of Corona cases in Kangra district has gone up to 7.

A woman, who had recently returned back to Una from Delhi, has tested positive in reports received by district administration of Una late in the evening. Deputy Commissioner Una, Sandeep Kumar confirmed that the lady, who was under institutional quarantine, has tested positive. This had taken the total number of corona positive cases in state to 50 and in Una district to 17.

Source : The Tribune

Shimla : Mother of the 21-year-old youth from Sarkaghat, who passed away due to coronavirus, has also tested positive on Thursday.

She accompanied her son during his treatment at Delhi for renal failure, and later, moved to Indira Gandhi Medical College, here.

According to the doctors, the 47-year-old woman, who has been quarantined since her son’s death, is in a good state of health.

With this, the number of coronavirus patients in Himachal has risen to 46.

Source : The Tribune

The worst fears of import of coronavirus by allowing the entry of thousands into Himachal seem to be coming true as a new positive case came to light today. The case has come at a time when Himachal was aiming to be corona-free as there was only one active case in Solan. Now, the number of total cases had risen to 41.

A 30-year-old youth of Jogindernagar in Mandi district, working in a multinational company in Delhi, tested positive. This is the first case of a person, who had entered the state on an e-pass issued by Mandi DC, testing positive for corona. The person, working in a telecom company, returned home on April 29 in a taxi along with three others. He has now been shifted to Nerchowk medical college while the administration will take the samples of his family and other contacts.

A 26-year-old girl, hailing from Gurdaspur, who had been residing at a labour hostel at Jhad Majri in Baddi, also tested positive at her native village in Gurdaspur, where she reached from Baddi on April 28. The case will be counted in Punjab.

The girl had been lodged in the hostel since lockdown but visited GMCH-32, Chandigarh, on April 26 as she was suffering from stones. Immediately after return, she fell sick and left for her home in Gurdaspur. The samples of 22 primary contacts, including other girls and the staff of the hostel, will be tested tomorrow.

Source : The Tribune