All residents except one of Thorang village in Himachal Pradesh have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Thorang village situated along the Manali-Leh highway has just 42 residents who voluntarily got tested themselves some days back, which revealed that all except one of them were affected.
The Lahaul-Spiti valley where the village is located has been one of the worst affected districts in the state. Around 856 people have been tested positive in the district so far. The high altitudes villages in the districts are experiencing snowfall and a dip in temperature which raises concerns of the authorities about the possibility of a greater spread of the virus in the coming days.
Bhushan Thakur, a 52-year-old man, is the only person in Thorang village not affected by the virus who informed the media that he is now living in a separate room since five of his family members were tested positive. He also said that he is strictly following all the protocols to keep out the virus and warned the people to be extra cautious and not to take the disease lightly, particularly during winter.
Many of the tourist spots have been closed by the local administration since the villages are now being turned to containment zones with the recent spike in cases. The outbreak in the village allegedly erupted after a religious gathering that happened a few days back. The chief medical officer has advised all the residents to voluntarily get themselves tested in order to analyze the situation and take the necessary precautions.