Two more dead in Panchkula, 18 Haryana secretariat staff among those positive

PANCHKULA:TWO more people succumbed to Covid-19 in Panchkula on Thursday, taking the district toll to 15. The district also confirmed 94 fresh cases, bringing the tally to 1,923.

The two deceased include a 75-year-old man from Sector 17 and a 60-year-old woman from

Manakpur village.

Among those tested positive on Thursday are 18 staff members of the Haryana Civil Secretariat. These include residents of Panchkula and other districts and states. Their contacts are being traced and sampled.

The local cases are from Sectors 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12A, 14, 15, 15, 21 and 25, besides Nanakpur, Hangola, Pinjore, Kalka, Surajpur and Old Panchkula. Of the 1,923 persons tested positive in Panchkula district till date, 730 remain active, while 1,178 have been cured and discharged.

ONLY COVID TESTING LAB SHUT DOWN

Authorities have shut down the only Covid-19 testing lab in Panchkula at the civil hospital in Sector 6, with half of its staff testing positive over the past three days. Of the 12 staffers, six, including the laboratory in-charge, have tested positive.

“We have shut down the lab for at least 48 hours for disinfection, and will also arrange additional staff,” said Dr Rajiv Narwal, nodal officer, Covid-19.

Meanwhile, new samples are being sent to PGIMER and IMTECH, Sector 39, Chandigarh.