All 29 samples test negative in state

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 28

“The second test of the 21-year-old patient undergoing treatment at the Tanda Medical College has turned out negative,” said RD Dhiman, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Tourism). He said the youth, who had returned from Singapore, was likely to be discharged as soon.

The other positive case in Himachal is a 63-year-old woman who had returned to her village in Kangra from Dubai. Her tests were conducted yesterday which showed she was still Covid-positive. She can be next tested only after a week.

So far, a total of 2,409 persons have come to the state from abroad out of which 724 persons have completed the mandatory 28-day isolation period. Tests of 179 persons have been undertaken so far, out of which two had tested positive while one US-returned Tibetan from McLeodganj died due to the virus.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today took stock of the situation through a video conference with all deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and chief medical officers. He advised people to strictly adhere to the social distancing directive.

Thakur also directed officials to be sensitive towards the problems of people and ensure that nobody faces inconvenience. He also said that home delivery of essential commodities had been started in some district and efforts are on to cover the entire state.

Dhiman informed that the Health and Wellness Centre set up under the National Health Mission was providing counselling and answering queries related to medicine, paediatrics and psychiatry through a telemedicine facility from 8 am to 8 pm daily.

13 suspects test negative

Thirteen persons, who had come in contact with three Covid positive patients in Kangra district, have tested negative. Their samples were taken on Friday and test reports were received Saturday evening. The district health authorities feared that any of 13 people testing positive would have increased the chances of community spread.