October 29, 2020
As per reports 39 persons have tested positive yesterday for COVID-19 in Rangrik village of Spiti which is part tribal district Lahaul & Spiti. It is for the first time that such a high number of cases together, have been reported from the Spiti area of the district. Confirming the same Gian Sagar Negi, ADM Kaza informed that after the reports of 39 confirmed positive, the village has been contained.
Though the source of infection in the village is yet unknown, but as per initial reports there was a death case in the village where people congregated. The village has total population of around 600 people which makes about 7% in the village as infected now.
ADM Negi said contact tracing is being done on top priority to contain the spread of virus. Pertinent to mention that currently Lahaul & Spiti is the lowest infected district in the state. Where all other districts of the state are reporting COVID-19 cases in four figures, Lahaul & Spiti till date has a total of 330 cases, of which currently 62 are active cases. Only 1 death has been reported in the district so far.
Kaza area of the district made news countrywide in this year June, as to contain spread of infection these vigilant and aware tribal area residents turned away Minister of the state Ram lal Markanda from entering Kaza town. Reportedly they stopped the minister because he tried to enter without fulfilling quarantine conditions which were prevalent those days. “Those coming from other parts of the state have to undergo 14-day quarantine and the minister was violating the norms,” they had alleged.
Image of protest in June, while the residents of Kaza turned back Ram Lal Markanda from entering town.
Though later the action of the residents had to face the wrath of the State government as cases were registered.
However, attributed to this level of vigil by these Spiti residents; before these fresh cases in Rangrik got reported, only 41 were infected. Yet now, with such a large number of positive cases being reported together, calls for stern steps by the State government. As with winters setting in, will make these areas even more inaccessible for good medical facilities to reach out in case of any community spread.
Currently police is ensuring that there is no movement in and out of Rangrik except in case of emergency. Medical team are carrying out further testing of primary contacts in kaza around.
State tally stands upto 21200 now and death toll at about 300.
