Himachal imposes statewide indefinite curfew

With the state experiencing three coronavirus cases and one death, the Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday imposed a statewide indefinite curfew to prevent its epidemic.

Earlier, it was under lockdown.

A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

The Chief Minister said district-level coordination committees, led by ministers, have been constituted for effective and better coordination in order to ensure availability of essential commodities.

He also directed the officials to ensure steps to check hoarding of essential commodities.

Himachal Pradesh on Monday saw its first coronavirus death as a 69-year-old Tibetan who recently returned from the US died, health officials said.

Tenzin Chopel died in the state-owned Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda town in Kangra district.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R.D. Dhiman said the patient was earlier undergoing treatment in a private hospital.

He was hospitalised in the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College on Monday morning. After his death, his swab samples confirmed that he was Covid-19 positive.

He reached the Delhi international airport on March 15. After spending some days in Delhi he reached McLeodganj, the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on March 21 while hiring a cab. IANS