By Mohan Lal Verma
April 19, 2020
Health authorities of the state are coping with another major challenge after surfacing of two SARS-CoV-2 cases belonging to Community transmission in Hamirpur district. Till date State has recorded 39 cases of COVID-19 pandemic and most of them are attributed to migration of people from affected countries and infected hot-spots or because of coming in contact with SARS-CoV-2 positive suspected patients.
So far, the most of Corona Virus cases are in five border districts including Una, Solan, Kangra, Chamba and Sirmaur but have not indicated community transmission. The most affected district is Una registered 16 cases shares porous borders with Punjab.  Solan recorded nine cases, six in Chamba and five in Kangra , Two Hamirpur and one Sirmaur. All the infected districts share long borders with Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.
Three cases were detected in last 24 hrs in the hill state is not only alarming moreover indicates spreading of virus in the state at a faster pace. Two cases registered from Hamirpur district yesterday indicate community transmission and another tested positive belonged to Chamba allegedly contracted in Thulail Quarantine center.
Despite the consistent efforts, state Administration and Health authorities could not contain the movement of most contacts who had visited hot-spots or shared vehicles and rooms with COVID-19 positive people strictly. Even the movement of VIPS by Air or road movement could not be ruled out as the entry permits were issued to some of ruling politician easily. The recent row of Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma making rounds in media is evident to support the claim.
Moreover, number of border districts in the Punjab are already placed in Red zone for the COVID-19. However, all such districts figured in the Green Zone in Himachal, an Official told on the condition of anonymity.
State decided to procure Rapid Diagnostic Kits to test the more people for COVID-19 who wants to enter the state or are living in the hot-spots, but will it be enough, would have to be seen.
The writer is presently working with National New Agency UNI, serving with web portal and electronic media at the state level for the last two decades .
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