Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur tests Covid +ve, Himachal Pradesh tally rises to 17,578

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 12

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur tested positive for coronavirus here today. He had been in home quarantine for the last one week. In a tweet, the Chief Minister stated that he had been in home quarantine for the last one week. “It was following the appearance of some symptoms in the last two days that I got my test done today, the report of which is positive,” he said.

Source not clear

• Though it could not be said with certainty from whom Jai Ram Thakur got the infection, his private secretary RN Batta, who had tested Covid positive and had travelled in the helicopter with him to and fro Manali, could be a source
• Banjar MLA Surinder Shourie, who tested Covid positive on October 1, had spent the entire day with Thakur while reviewing the preparations for Modi's visit

Though it could not be said with certainty from whom the Chief Minister got the infection, his private secretary RN Batta, who had tested Covid positive and had travelled in the helicopter with him to and fro Manali, could be a source.

Besides, Banjar MLA Surinder Shourie tested Covid positive on October 1, before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manali for the inauguration of the Atal Tunnel. The MLA had spent the entire day with the Chief Minister while reviewing the preparations for Modi’s visit. After Shourie was found infected with virus, Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania had also gone in home isolation as a precautionary measure.

So far, three ministers in the Jai Ram Cabinet have tested positive for coronvirus — Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh and Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhradwaj. About 12 MLAs, including Reeta Dhiman, Paramjit Singh Pammi, Lakhwinder Rana, Rakesh Jamwal, Vinod Kumar, Mohan Lal Brakta and Surinder Shourie, had tested Covid positive, with most of them having recovered. Rajya Sabha MP Indu Goswami, too, was found infected with the virus.

170 fresh cases reported

A total of 170 new cases were reported on Monday, taking the tally to 17,578. The fatality figure reached 246 as one person succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours. The death took place in Una district.

The highest number of 36 cases was reported in Shimla, followed by 24 in Kullu, 18 in Kangra, 17 in Mandi, 15 in Sirmaur, 12 in Solan, 10 each in Lahaul Spiti, Bilaspur and Chamba, seven each in Una and Hamirpur and four in Kinnaur.

The number of active cases in the state today was 2,637 out of a total of 17,578 total positive cases.