Keeping in view the rise in Covid-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh, the State Government has decided to postpone the Swarnim Himachal Rath Yatra for the time being which was scheduled to be started on 15 April, 2021 on the occasion of Himachal Diwas a part of celebrations of Golden Jubilee of Statehood of Himachal Pradesh.The decision was taken during a meeting held here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to review the Covid-19 situation in the State.The Chief Minister said that the decision to organize Himachal Swarnim Rath Yatra in the State would be taken after the situation normalizes. He said that similarly the decision has also been taken to restrict the gatherings in the marriage ceremony to 50 people indoor and maximum 200 outdoor till further orders. Moreover, only 50 persons would be allowed to attend the funeral.Jai Ram Thakur directed the Health Department to take effective steps for enhancing the bed capacity in the government hospitals so that if the corona cases rise, the infected people could be provided better treatment facility. He also asked to contact private hospitals of the State for making alternative arrangements of beds for Corona patients.He said that the government was fully geared up to check the spread of this virus and there was no shortage of oxygen cylinders, vaccine, PPE kits, face masks and hand sanitizers.
Very soon, extra beds would be make available in Ner Chowk Medical College for Covid patients and newly passed batch of 28 nurses would be deployed in Nahan Medical College. He said that alternative bed capacity would also be enhanced in Hamirpur and Nahan Medical colleges.The Chief Minister said that the districts have been directed to take up vaccination and testing for Covid-19 in a campaign mode besides contacting the positive cases in home isolation so that if required, they could be advised for medical treatment in the hospitals. The emphasis had been laid on screening the people on border areas, he added.Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal emphasized that District Level Action Plans would be implemented strictly to check the spread of the virus.Chief Secretary Anil Khachi also gave his valuable suggestions on the steps required to be taken to deal with the situation and also apprised about the steps being taken by the State Government upto the field level.Health Secretary Amitabh Awasthi informed about the corona situation in the State and said that presently there were 3828 active corona cases in the State. He said that Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Chief Medical Officers, Principals of Government Medical Colleges and Block Medical Officers have been given necessary directions.Managing Director, National Health Mission, Himachal Pradesh Dr. Nipun Jindal and senior officers of the Health Department also attended the meeting.