Uttarakhand Coronavirus cases rise to 1,985, 25 dead, 1,230 cured till June 16

• Uttarakhand currently has 717 active cases.
• 1,230 patients have recovered and 25 patients have died.
• Uttarakhand government will provide life insurance to officials involved in the fight against Coronavirus.

Uttarakhand has reported 43 new cases of Coronavirus in the state on June 16. This means that the state has 1,985 total cases of Coronavirus, out of which 717 are active, 1,230 have recovered and 25 patients have succumbed to the deadly disease. Dehradun has reported 507 cases and Nainital has reported 348 cases.

"In a meeting with the Chief Minister it was suggested by the top officials, that people do not adhere to social distancing, especially in fruit and vegetable markets. Moreover, in smaller towns people in large numbers are hanging around on streets and other public places. It has been decided to enforce the laws strictly to maintain the norms of social distancing. We will be sending fresh instructions to District Magistrates in this connection," said a senior official of the Uttarakhand government.


U'khand minister Covid positive, Cong asks cabinet to go into quarantine

Hours after Uttarakhand Minister Satpal Maharaj tested positive for coronavirus, the state's opposition Congress on Sunday sought that the state cabinet should go into quarantine as he had attended a cabinet meeting earlier this week.

"Very disturbing news, the whole Uttrakhand Cabinet including the Chief Minister may be quarantined as a Cabinet Minister who attended the Cabinet Meeting found Corona positive," Congress state Vice President Suryakant Dhasmana said in a tweet.

Satpal Maharaj and at least two dozen of his family members and staff also tested positive, state officials said. This came a day after the minister's wife Amrita Rawat, who had fever for the past few days, tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.

Badrinath temple opens, first prayers held on PM Modi's behalf

The gates of the Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand were opened at 4.30 a.m. on May 15 and the first prayers to Lord Badri Vishal were performed on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During this time, a very limited number of people, including the chief priest were present there in keeping with the social distancing norms. This is for the first time in history, that devotees were not present at the dham when the gates were opened.

Congress leader raises questions on showering petals by air force

Uttarakhand Congress leader Navprabhat has raised questions on the flower showering on hospitals by the air force and said that there is no meaning to it when medics are getting infected due to lack of PPEs.

The former Congress minister asked the BJP government "to learn from Sonia Gandhi and pay heed to advice of Sonia Gandhi."

In a statement he said "on whom you are showering flowers the people who are getting infected due to lack of PPEs and government is unable to provide them kits."

Hospital OPDs to open in 9 Uttarakhand districts

OPDs in government hospitals in nine districts of Uttarakhand will reopen from April 26 to provide treatment to persons suffering from various ailments since no coronavirus case was reported from there, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said.

The decision on this regard assumes significance since incidents of diarrhoea and dengue witness an increase during this time of the year.

Rawat said that treatment for coronavirus infections would now be available at Mela Hospital in Haridwar, Doon Hospital in Dehradun, the under-construction hospital in Rudrapur, and Sushilraj Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani.

Tablighis who are hiding to be tried for murder: DGP

The Uttarakhand Police on Monday warned Tablighi Jamaat members who are hiding in the state that they should either surrender themselves to the police or health department teams, otherwise the police will take strict legal measures against them after midnight.

These legal steps will also be taken under stringent sections of the law. These include attempt to murder (Section 307 of IPC) and murder (Section 302 of IPC) against the accused.

Speaking to IANS, Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DG Police) Anil Kumar Raturi said, "Even after being found positive, the Tablighi travellers are trying to hide themselves instead of separating themselves from the people of the society, this act of theirs is no less than a serious crime."

He added, "If after this order i.e. after Monday-Tuesday midnight, any hidden corona suspect is found in any corner of the state, then the police will directly act against him under IPC section 307 for attempt to murder and arrest him to be quarantined."

BJP MLA starts Modi Kitchens

BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi from Mussoorie has started four 'Modi Kitchens' to feed the families of labourers and daily wagers affected by the nationwide lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic. He said that the kitchens are being operated with the help of common people. Food packets are being made available for free. 1,600 packets were prepared on the first day. Today food is being distributed to 2,250 people. About 600 people are cooking food in the kitchen at a time.

Joshi told IANS that "We have started 'Modi Kitchens' at four places in my Assembly seat, to make sure there is no starvation in the state at the time of lockdown. It has been started in Dobhalwala, Gadi Cantt, Jakhan, and Rajpur."

Congress MLAs contribute ₹15 lakh each from MLA funds

Eleven Congress MLAs in Uttarakhand have contributed ₹15 lakh each from their MLA funds to help the needy and buy medical equipment in their respective constituencies to fight coronavirus amid the nationwide lockdown.

Government to provide life insurance to ‘corona warriors’

The Uttarakhand government will extend life insurance facility to officials involved in the fight against novel coronavirus in the hill state.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat reiterated his government's commitment to fight coronavirus and said that doctors and officials of Health Department, local bodies, policemen, media persons, staff of non-governmental bodies working to tackle coronavirus would get life insurance.

See also:
Coronavirus cases in Telangana
Coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh
Coronavirus cases in Gujarat
Coronavirus cases in Bihar