While presiding over the Video Conference with the Chief Ministers of the States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for effectively undertaking Active Case Finding (ACF) Campaign in Himachal Pradesh which has helped in screening of whole population of the State for any Influenza Like Illness symptoms. He also urged all the States to follow Himachal Pradesh in this initiative to combat the pandemic of Coronavirus.Prime Minister also asked the Chief Ministers of the States to motivate their people to download Arogya Setu App which would help in detecting an active Coronavirus carrier.Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur urged the Prime Minister to provide adequate number of ventilators to meet out any eventuality. He said that manufacturing in pharma units in the State has started and was meeting out the requirements of the country as well as world. He said that almost 80 percent pharma was in MSME sector, therefore the Union Government should provide all possible help to ensure smooth supply of chemical and raw material. Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has constituted a Task Force to restart economic activities in the State. He said that the State was endeavoring to start economic activities within the State. He said that Himachal Pradesh was a tourist State as lakhs of domestic and foreign tourists visit the State every year. He said that the Corona pandemic has completely ruined the tourism industry in the State. He said that similarly, apple plays a vital role in the economy of the State. He said that there was an urgent need to ensure adequate supply of carton boxes and also better facility for smooth transportation of apple.
Chief Minister said that presently reports of 40 people had been found positive out of which 25 persons have been discharged after being found negative. In addition to this, four persons have gone for treatment outside the State and one person has died. He said that remaining 10 persons were under treatment in the hospitals of the State. He said that no case of coronavirus has been reported during last five days from any part of the State.Jai Ram Thakur said that first case for coronavirus in the State was reported on 19th March and curfew was imposed in Kangra district. He said that on 24th March whole State was placed under curfew to break the chain of coronavirus. He said that supply chain of essential commodities had been ensured so that people do not face any inconvenience due to imposition curfew.Chief Minister said that since six districts of state were in green zone and not even a single case of coronavirus has been reported in these districts. He felt the need to continue lockdown in wake of COVID-19 pandemic but at the same time States would be allowed to start their economic activities particularly in the green zone.Jai Ram Thakur said that the testing ratio of the State was 700 per million of population which was one of the highest in the country. He said that the Active Case Finding Campaign was an unique program under which 70 lakh population was checked for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) with the team of 16,000 officials including Asha workers, Anganwadi, para- medics and police and all ILI patients were being tested for corona.Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, Director General of Police S.R. Mardi, Additional Chief Secretary Home Manoj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Health R.D. Dhiman, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu, Secretary I &PR Rajneesh, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister Vinay Singh and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.