Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday night, a senior official said.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said Thakur's sample was taken for testing after a deputy secretary in his office was found positive for the virus.
Thakur's test result came out negative around 9 pm, Dhiman said, adding the chief minister's wife and two other family members have also tested negative for the virus.
Earlier in the day, after the deputy secretary tested positive for the virus, Thakur told media, "As per the coronavirus protocol, I am going to quarantine myself."
He had then quarantined himself at his official residence at Oakover here.
Dhiman told reporters that 63 samples were taken for testing, including of the CM, his staff and security personnel posted at his residence, and of officials and other staff posted at his office at the state secretariat.
While the results of the CM and his family members were received Wednesday night, the rest would be available in the morning, Dhiman said.
The senior official said all contacts of the deputy secretary in the Chief Minister's Office who tested positive have been asked to quarantine themselves at home.