COVID-19: All educational institutions in Himachal to remain closed till May 1

Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 19

With a steep surge in Covid cases, Himachal government has decided to keep all educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, of the state closed till May 1, 2021.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur with senior officers to review the COVID-19 situation in the state, here today.

During this period, the faculty of schools, colleges and universities would also not come for duty.

The chief minister said he recently visited three districts of Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur of the state and took stock of the COVID-19 situation.

The state Cabinet meeting would be held on April 22 to take few more decisions to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus.

He directed the officers to enhance the bed capacity in the hospitals.

He said that steps would be taken to ensure proper availability of oxygen and medical staff in the state.

He said that bed capacity would be enhanced in Nerchowk Medical College, IGMC Shimla, Zonal Hospital Dharamshala, Tanda Medical College, Sunder Nagar Hospital and various other hospitals.

He said that health workers would be posted in appropriate number for care of COVID-19 patients.

He said that special emphasis was being laid on providing better healthcare and other facilities to the patients under home isolation.

The vaccination drive has been given added pace in the state and so far, 11.46 lakh people have been inoculated the first dose.

The state was at the seventh position in the vaccination drive in the country on the basis of population density rate.