Statewide drive to disinfect public places

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 16

The state government today invoked the Himachal Pradesh Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) Regulations, 2020 and launched a statewide campaign to disinfect all public and private buses, bus stands, taxis, railway stations, airports, hotels, guesthouses, hospitals, markets and other public places, and disallowing overcrowding at public places for surveillance, prevention, control and treatment of patients of Covid-19 that was declared as a pandemic by the WHO last week.

However, a reality check in the state capital by The Tribune team today revealed that the HPTDC and Tourism Department had not bothered to disinfect even the HPTDC lift on the Cart road. The HPTDC lift is frequently used by locals and tourists, both domestic and foreign.

Over 588 persons, who had the history of travelling to China or other Covid–affected countries and were being screened and quarantined, had visited the state so far, said Dr Sonam Negi, Surveillance Officer. So far, seven suspected patients had tested negative for the virus and the report of the eighth case was awaited, he added.

The Special Secretary Health and Director of National Health Mission, today directed the authorities concerned to disinfect all public places with the spray of freshly prepared 1% sodium hypochlorite solution before the start and the end of a trip or at a 12-hour interval, if the trip of people with a travel history was longer.

He added that all stakeholders, including the Director Transport, would ensure that public and private buses, and taxis display prevention, control and helpline numbers. The conductors shall make announcements in their buses to educate passengers about preventive measures and the helpline number (104).

He said that the presidents of all private bus and taxi associations and vyapar mandals in Himachal Pradesh, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and heads of all line departments should comply with the order and submit compliance reports to the surveillance authorities.