13 cops in Himachal CM security test positive for Covid

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 17

After a minister and several BJP leaders tested positive, 13 police personnel deployed in Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s security tested positive for Covid on Tuesday.

All 13 are primary contacts of the two cops, also in CM security, who had last week tested positive and were under institutional quarantine at the local Grand Hotel. Following the two cops testing positive almost a week back, 13 policemen, who had been placed under institutional quarantine as a precautionary measure, tested positive today.

Health officials revealed that while three of them were symptomatic, other 10 had no symptoms. Their samples were taken and tested today, six days after they were asked to remain under institutional quarantine. So till now a total of 15 people in CM security have tested positive, since last week.

However, there is no fear for the CM, his personal staff or personal security officials having contracted the infection as all 13 were in the outer ring of security. In fact, all 13 are part of the second cavalcade and travel by road, preceding the CM’s arrival by helicopter. These 13 had travelled from Kangra to Una as the CM was scheduled to travel to the district. The plan later got cancelled.

A Deputy Secretary in the CM office had earlier tested positive, resulting in the office being sealed and the CM being forced into home quarantine. However, the CM, his family, as well as his driver, security staff and office staff had tested negative.

The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 4,230, including 1,320 active cases and 2,851 who have recovered from the infection.