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Aiming to intensify COVID-19 testing, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the Uttar Pradesh government would increase testing facilities by adding 14 more labs and setting up sample collection centres in all 75 district hospitals of the state.
He also said that the government would decide on lifting lockdown only after evaluating the ground situation on April 10 or 11.
Addressing media persons through video conferencing in Lucknow on Tuesday, Yogi said that the government had initiated all steps to secure the life of 23 crore people of the state and had launched the biggest campaign to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus in UP.
Expressing concern over the rising number of coronavirus positive cases in the state in the last five days, Yogi said that among these cases, more than 60 per cent were members of Tablighi Jamaat.
“It is a matter of concern and we are going through the tedious task of identifying all infected persons in the state and isolating them. Unfortunately, many of them are avoiding health officials. They should understand it is a disease and they should get treatment at the earliest. They are not only risking their lives but also those of others in society,” he said.
The chief minister said that when the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the country, there was no testing lab in the state, but now 10 labs were fully functional.
“These labs will be upgraded to Level 3 to ensure research facilities there and it will help the state in the long term,” he said. 
“We will set up Level 2 labs in 14 medical colleges of the state that are not operational till date. For this, a committee under principal secretary (medical and health) has been set up to expedite purchase of equipment and complete other formalities at the earliest,” the chief minister said.
Besides, Yogi said, COVID-19 sample collection centres would be set up at all district hospitals so that any sick person needing help could go there and get tested. He said officials had been authorised to start working on this line.
The chief minister said that the recently formed Covid Care Fund was getting funds from legislators, common man and even corporate houses.
“The money collected in the Covid Care Fund will be used on improving infrastructure of testing labs and COVID hospitals. We will also use this for manufacture of personal protection equipment (PPE), N95 masks, ventilators, infra and thermal anlysers,” he said.
Yogi also elaborated on the work of the 11 committees set up to deal with the coronavirus crisis and said that the officers had been asked to ensure that there was no shortage of food in the state.
“Principal secretary (horticulture) has been asked to ensure food and shelter facilities for animals. Dairy industry has also been asked to ensure supply of milk to the common man. Besides, officials have been asked to take care of stray animals like monkeys and dogs,” Yogi said.
“The police have been working to ensure effective lockdown but we need to protect them from the coronavirus. In the last few days, the police identified members of Tablighi Jamaat. Similarly, CM Helpline has done a tremendous job by connecting with gram pradhans and different departments. It has helped in identifying outsiders. The input was passed on to departments concerned. This system has helped us a lot,” the chief minister said.
“We are working to contain the spread of coronavirus and I am sure that we will succeed in our endeavour. The only treatment in the present circumstance is social distancing. Rumours should be avoided as some people feel that this disease cannot affect them. Whosoever violates precautionary measures will suffer,” Yogi said.
When asked about the scheduled lifting of the lockdown on April 15, Yogi said that it was too early to comment on the issue.
“We will take a call on this issue after April 10 or 11 and go by the directives of the Union government,” he said.