Shimla: Himachal Pradesh government on Monday got a pat from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its model to deal with Coronavirus pandemic, especially its decision on Active Case Finding (ACF) drive to reach-out a population of 70 lakhs engaging 16,000 grass-root health care workers.
The drive, which state government completed much before Mid-April helped in the screening of the whole population of the State for Influenza-like illness symptoms.
Two asymptomatic Coronavirus positive cases, both in Hamirpur district were detected through this drive, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting with state Chief Ministers on Monday.
Prime Minister, not only appreciated the step taken by the Himachal Pradesh government but asked the states to follow Jai Ram Thakur's model to combat the pandemic.
During the whole exercise, 16,000 Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, health centre staff and auxiliary nurse midwives went door-to-door reaching out to 95-98 percent of the state population on foot and trekked the hill to reach even those living in snow-bound areas of Lahaul-Spiti.
In Monday's meeting Chief Minister spoke about steps taken to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, and hoped that the way things have turned, Himachal Pradesh may be free from active COVID 19 cases by May 3 –when lockdown 2.0 ends.
Currently, there are only 10 active cases left out 40 detected in the state. There have not been any new cases during the past five days.
Yet Chief Minister favoured continuation of the lockdown conditions barring the districts where no Coronavirus case has been reported so far.
"Lockdown should be continued but at the same time all states must be allowed to start economic activities particularly in the green zone" he proposed.
Thakur informed that the state government has tried to ensure the resumption of the operations in the case of pharmaceutical units to meet the demand of medicines in the state and the country.
"However, about 80 per cent of pharma units in the state are in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector, so the Union government should provide all possible help to ensure a smooth supply of chemical and raw material".
Thakur said that the state government has constituted a task force to restart economic activities in the state. He said that the state was heading towards starting economic activities.
"Tourism in the state has been adversely hit by COVID-19. Similarly, horticulture especially apple cultivation is a key contributor to the state's economy and there is an urgent need to ensure an adequate supply of carton boxes and also a better facility for smooth transportation of apples," he said.