Cases surging, Himachal extends curfew till May 26

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 15

The Himachal Pradesh Government today decided to extend the statewide Covid-19 curfew till May 26. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Earlier, the curfew had been imposed from May 10 to May 16 in view of the surge in daily deaths and cases.

The state yesterday recorded the highest-ever 67 deaths since the outbreak last year and over 3,000 cases. There have been 2,185 deaths due to the pandemic in the state so far.

The Cabinet also decided that in order to check large gatherings, weddings would not be allowed at marriage palaces and community halls. Hiring of tent houses, caterers and bands would also be prohibited. Weddings can be only held in houses or courts with the gathering capped at 20 persons. To prevent exodus of labourers and workers, all shops dealing with construction material can open on Tuesdays and Fridays for three hours.

The Cabinet decided to allow hiring of hearse vans by the medical colleges, zonal and regional hospitals and hospitals with a bed capacity of 200 and above, besides all MCs. This has been done as relatives of deceased are facing problems in taking bodies to the cremation ground.

It also decided that the Forest Department would provide free wood for cremation of the Covid victims where forest rights are enforced while the Forest Corporation would provide wood in other areas.