73% Covid cases reported in Shimla after curbs lifted

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 29

The easing of restrictions and the lifting of the barrier at Shoghi have led to a spurt in Covid-19 cases in Shimla, as 73 per cent of the total 1,064 cases in the district have been reported in the past 23 days.

Now, a large number of people are visiting Shimla city, spreading the pandemic. As many as 780 of 1,064 cases have been reported after September 5. The first Covid case was reported in the district on May 24 and the average of three to five cases per day increased to 34 cases per day after the restrictions were lifted.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap had taken the initiative to impose restrictions in April after 40 days lockdown. “Registration on the e-portal should have been continued because now there is no scope to trace the contacts of Covid patients in case there is an explosion of the disease,” says Chringi Lal, a septuagenarian. “We have been following the guidelines to protect ourselves but in case people are casual and the administration is lax, it will be difficult for everyone to manage the situation,” he added.

Elderly people, who have virtually been in captivity for more than six months, are unhappy, as they feel that their efforts and full corporation with the authorities concerned might go waste in case the virus spreads, says Kishore Sharma, a retiree.

Another serious dimension is that there is no check on people coming from containment zones. It is free movement for people visiting Shimla and other tourist resorts in Himachal and the fear of Covid spreading quickly is worrying local residents. Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Kerala have become vulnerable as tourists from different states are rushing to these places, ignoring safety norms.