Educational institutions closed till May 1 in Himachal

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 19

Due to a steep surge in Covid cases, the state government has decided to keep all educational institutions — schools, colleges and universities — closed till May 1.

During this period, the faculty members will also not go to these institutes for duty. 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. The Chief Minster said he recently visited three districts of Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur and took stock of the situation. The state Cabinet meeting will be held on April 22 to take a few more decisions to contain the spread of Covid-19.

He directed officers to enhance the bed capacity in the hospitals. He said steps would be taken to ensure proper availability of oxygen and medical staff in the state. He said the bed capacity would be enhanced at Nerchowk Medical College; IGMC, Shimla; Zonal Hospital, Dharamsala; Tanda Medical College; Sunder Nagar Hospital etc. He said adequate health workers would be posted for the care of Covid patients.

He said emphasis was being laid on providing better health care and other facilities to patients under home isolation. So far, 11.46 lakh people have been inoculated for the first dose. The state is at the seventh position in the vaccination drive in the country on the basis of the population density rate.

Covid review meet

• The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the CM to review the Covid-19 situation in the state
• A Cabinet meeting will be held on April 22 to take a few more decisions to contain the spread of virus.
• The CM has directed officers to enhance the bed capacity in hospitals.