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By: Express News Service | Shimla |
Updated: November 17, 2020 12:03:21 am
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. (File Photo) Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said that people of the state have started behaving casually and are participating in social functions and weddings without precautions despite the rising number of Covid fatalities and cases.
He also linked the ongoing second wave of Covid cases in the state to the unconditional opening of state’s borders two months ago, saying that regulation at the borders helped in better contact tracing. If the situation persists, he said, the state government will have to “take some decisions”.
Thakur said that in the initial phase of the pandemic, people were following all precautions and the spread of the disease was slow. However, in the ongoing wedding and festive season, a large number of people are gathering in social functions and refusing to trim down the ceremonies. People are being adamant about organising dham (wedding
feast) and nati (folk dance), he said.
The state has reported 442 Covid deaths so far, and currently has around 6,500 active cases. There were around 2,500 active cases a month ago, with daily recoveries exceeding the new cases. Since then, however, there has been a sharp rise in cases.
On Sunday, Thakur had directed the district authorities to increase bed capacity at the Covid centres, deploy more ambulances with oxygen cylinders for transporting critical patients, and organise more IEC (information, education and communication) activities to discourage people from large gatherings.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd