Himachal sees 61 Covid-19 cases, tally rises to 2,879

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 4

As many as 61 coronavirus cases were reported in the state today, taking the tally to 2,879, including 12 deaths.

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The highest number of 17 cases was detected in Chamba district and 12 in Solan district. Kangra reported 10 new cases, followed by seven in Mandi, three in Hamirpur and two each in Kullu and Shimla and one in Una.

Curfew in 5 Una panchayats

District Magistrate Sandeep Kumar on Tuesday imposed a curfew in four gram panchayats and a nagar panchayat in Una subdivision after 26 persons tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday evening. The curfew was imposed in Bhatoli, Dehlan, Bangarh and Jakhera gram panchayats, besides Mehatpur Nagar Panchayat, and would remain effective from 8 pm on Tuesday till 7 am on Sunday.

All shops and commercial establishments would remain closed and no person would be allowed in the streets and the public places. However, industrial units in these panchayats would be allowed to function with in-house staff.

As per a report received from Tanda Medical College on Monday evening, 16 persons, including 7 women and three children from Bhatoli village, all of whom were primary contacts of their relative, who drove a taxi, were reported positive.

Three persons from Kotla Kalan, two from Dangoli, and one from Rakkar, besides two from Panjawar and one from Saloh villages, both in Haroli subdivision, were also found infected.

Two Baddi units sealed

Two pharmaceutical units — Dr Reddy’s Lab at Bhud village and Prosperity Pharma at Thana village in Baddi — were sealed on Tuesday after Covid cases were detected on their premises.

These were among 12 other micro containment zones declared in the BBN industrial belt today. Others comprise the houses of Covid-positive patients at Khera, Kalyanpur, Kishenpura, Kunjahal, Surjmajra, Dogranwala villages and area near Amarawati apartment and Sanati Bagh in Baddi, said Additional Deputy Commissioner, Vivek Chandel.

A woman employee of Dr Reddy’s Lab, Baddi, who had tested positive on August 2, was booked after she was found to have jumped quarantine.

Lab technician tests +ve

• The RT-PCR lab of Medical College, Mandi, was shut for 48 hours after a lab technician was found Covid-positive
• The lab area has been sealed and no Covid tests will be done for the next two days
• Samples from Kullu will be sent to the IGMC, Shimla, and samples from Mandi will be sent to Hamirpur and Palampur
• About 300 tests were being done in the lab daily