Himachal restricts attendance in marriages, funerals in view of rise in Covid cases

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 6

Keeping in view the rise in Covid-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh, the state government on decided to restrict the gatherings in marriages to 50 in indoor and maximum 200 in outdoor settings, besides a maximum attendance of 50 persons during funerals.

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. It was also decided to postpone the Swarnim Himachal Rath Yatra which was to commence on April 15, 2021 on the occasion of launch of Golden Jubilee of Statehood of Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister said the decision to organise Himachal Swarnim Rath Yatra in the State would be taken after the situation normalises. The CM directed the Health Department to take effective steps for enhancing the bed capacity in the government hospitals so that if the coronaviurs 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 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 stated. He said that alternative bed capacity would also be enhanced in Hamirpur and Nahan medical colleges to meet the rising demand.

He revealed 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, the CM added.