Four deaths, 167 cases; state Covid tally rises to 4,895

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 22

The surge in Covid cases in the state continued today with 167 persons testing positive for the virus. Besides, four deaths from coronavirus were also reported, taking the toll to 27.

A 74-year-old woman from the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial estate died at India Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here around 3 am today. She was suffering from a severe lung problem and was referred to the IGMC here late Friday night. The three other deaths took place in Solan and Mandi.

The total number of Covid cases rose to 4,895. The highest one-day spike of 53 cases was recorded in Solan, followed by 43 in Bilaspur, 26 in Hamirpur, 17 in Kangra, eight in Kullu, six in Shimla, five in Mandi, four in Kinnaur, two in Chamba and one each in Sirmaur, Una and Lahaul and Spiti.

A 34-year-old lady doctor, who was posted at the Covid care centre at Kullu and was in home quarantine, tested positive. Besides, four persons from Azamgarh in UP and one from Delhi, who had come to work in orchards, were also found infected.

50 cases in Solan

Fifty persons, including 37 in the BBN industrial area and six policemen, tested positive for Covid-19 in Solan district on Saturday.

Medical Officer, Solan, Dr NK Gupta said that nine persons, including two policemen in Parwanoo and two inter-state travellers in Solan and Arki each, were found infected. In the BBN area, the cases included six expectant mothers, five frontline workers, four policemen, a woman health worker and 16 direct contacts of earlier patients.

In Sirmaur district, nine persons tested Covid-positive in Nahan and Paonta Sahib.

4 docs, 2 nurses quarantined

Sixteen persons tested positive for coronavirus in Kangra district on Saturday. Meanwhile, there was panic in Tanda medical college after a 63-year-old woman, who was referred to the hospital from Hamirpur medical college, turned out to be Covid-positive. As a result, four doctors, two nurses and other staff members of the college, who had come in her direct contact, were quarantined.

80-yr-old patient dies

An 80-year-old Covid-19 patient, Mirchu Ram, died at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital at Nerchowk here on Saturday. He was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Pharma company worker succumbs

• The sample report of a 55-year-old worker of pharmaceutical company Panacea Biotech in Baddi, who died on Wednesday last, came out Covid-positive on Friday Night
• This is the sixth Covid death in this industrial belt and the second fatality this week. The deceases hailed from Kangra
• A 75-year-old woman from Bhud village died of Covid at the IGMC on Friday night