Journalist Dies Of Corona In Himachal

Five corona deaths in the past 24-hours, including a 30-yr old media person ,four MLAs, two cabinet ministers and an Additional Chief Secretary , Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a sudden spike in the COVID 19 spread raising fears in the 70-lakh population state .

The total number of deaths rose to 60 on Wednesday with total cases increasing to 7,910. Health officials hint at community spread in the hill state facing monsoon rains and opening-up of the inter-state borders.

Kangra’s Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati –who had earned laurels for handling the coronavirus cases in the most efficient manner in the state's biggest district has also been tested positive and currently has taken himself to an isolation .

The 10-day long monsoon session of the state assembly, currently underway ,spent three days to discuss COVID -19 situation in the state and impact of the lockdown on tourism ,industry ,businesses and livelihood means of Himachalis .

But for the Congress staging walk-out twice alleging collapse of the government machinery and later the opposition party holding demonstrations outside the Assembly seeking resignation of the BJP government there was hardly any consensus on the need for a laid down strategy to combat the virus in the coming months , during unlock 4.0 .

With the state government all set to open the temples and religious shrines to the public for paying obeisance, there are more worries about the infection making the lives miserable in the state, predominantly having a rural.

“ We can’t keep the things in lockdown .The business activity has to open-up and restrictions must be gradually lifted .The people have to learn to live with the virus .Unfortunately , the people have rather become careless .Yet ,we will do our best to check the spread of the virus and protect those with morbidities” Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur says .

Thakur tried to turn the tables on the Congress for spreading misinformation instead of extending help to the government and public . He played-up issue about the state unit of the Congress raising a bogus bill of Rs 12 cr for 'reimbursements' from the high command .

" The state government's total expenditure on all relief measures including transportation of stranded persons from different states was Rs 13 cr but the PCC brought-out a Rs 12 cr claim without spending a penny .THis is how the congress functions" he ridiculed .

Of five people ,who lost their lives to COVID included a 75-yr old person from Shimla ,a 41-yr old man from Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district.

Young journalist from Una ,who developed symptoms of the disease ,beside other complications, died on Wednesday .His test reports which came after his demise were COVID positive ,a senior health official confirmed later.

Shimla’s Chief Medical Officer Surekha Chopra was quoted this morning by media saying Community spread of the novel coronavirus has been witnessed in Himachal Pradesh’s capital Shimla as the recent data of cases reflects now".

“The coronavirus cases are increasing day by day and neither their index cases nor travel history was being found, which establishes its community spread", she added .