Ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Shimla, four employees of The Retreat test positive for Covid

Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, September 12

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Ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the state Capital on September 16, four employees of The Retreat have tested positive for Covid-19.

The four employees, including the manager of The Retreat, the summer holiday resort of the President of India in Shimla, tested positive on Saturday. As a consequence, instructions have been issued from the Rashtrapati Bhavan that RTPCR tests of all the employees and the visitors invited during the President’s visit be conducted.

Normally, there are about 50-60 employees in The Retreat, but the number swells during the President’s visit as staff from Delhi also arrives here.

Officials said everyone who will be in proximity with the President, including the minister in waiting, VIPs, police, and HPTDC staff will have to undergo an RT PCR test.

The retreat is being sanitised, officials said.

Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Sharma said a meeting has been called in the evening to review the situation.

The President is likely to address a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to mark the golden jubilee anniversary of statehood on September 17. He will arrive here at Kalyani Helipad on September 16 on a five-day programme.

Besides addressing the Vidhan Sabha session, he is scheduled to visit the Indian Audit and Accounts Academy, Yarrows and would also host “At Home” on September 19.

The President is likely to return to Delhi on September 20. To avoid any inconvenience to the general public, he would fly to Annandale from Kalyani and come to the Vidhan Sabha by road.