<span style="color: #222222;">In view of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh, the State government has decided to place greater emphasis on contact tracing of infected persons so that immediate preventive measures could be taken in time. Talking to senior officials of the districts through video conferencing from Shimla today, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur expressed concern over the increase in the number of COVID cases as well as deaths of COVID-19 patients during the last few days in the State. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Thakur directed officers that the bed capacity of all the COVID Hospitals and COVID Care Centres must be increased. He said that more ambulances with oxygen cylinders must also be deployed to facilitate the prompt transportation of critical patients from Home Isolation to Covid care centers or Covid hospitals.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, the number of active cases has gone up to 6,623 in the State. Mandi district reported 1,512 active cases, followed by 1,362 in Shimla. Kullu district stands third with 984 cases. The total number of affected people so far in the State has reached 29,457. However, out of them, 22,370 patients have recovered. So far, 435 deaths have been registered in the State due to COVID-19.</span><br />''  <br />