Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered strict enforcement with regard to the compulsory wearing of masks in public, while asking the police to take stringent action, including imposition of challans, against the violators.
Capt Amarinder, chairing a video conference to review Covid-19 situation in the State, made it clear that no compromise would be allowed and every citizen would have to mandatorily wear a mask when stepping out of home, in order check the spread of deadly pandemic.
Underlining the need for 100 percent adherence to orders on compulsory wearing of masks in public, the Chief Minister directed the police to challan those found moving around without masks (home-made or otherwise) in public places, under the provisions of the Epidemic Act.
The Chief Minister also issued strict directives for protection of all employees on the frontline of Covid-19 duty, including health, agriculture, police and revenue department staff, in the light of the death of a Kanungo.
“They should be provided PPE kits and other necessary protective gear,” he said, while ordering strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the State’s expert medical committee for the protection of workers.
Additional Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan, who heads Procurement Committee for Covid-19 related purchases, said that there was no shortage now of such equipment in the State, and all employees or staff working on the battle frontlines would be taken care of.
Giving details, she disclosed that of the 4.5 lakh PPE kits were ordered, 26,500 had been received so far, with 30,000 more expected to come between now and next week. In addition, there were sufficient stocks of masks, gloves etc, she added.
At the same time, the Chief Minister made it clear that there could be no compromise on the lives of the people and the Government’s priority continues to be on saving and protecting the citizens of Punjab. “I can get a factory started again but cannot bring a Punjabi back to life,” he said.
On the high mortality rate in the state, PGIMER’s former director and advisor to the government Dr KK Talwar told the Chief Minister that it was on account of the higher prevalence of co-morbidities or high risk factors in the State, as well as the higher footfall of international tourist or NRIs, among other factors.
RAPID TESTING IN STATE’S ALL 24 CONTAINMENT ZONES
The Chief Minister directed the Health Department to launch rapid testing in all the 24 containment zones of the state.
Four Punjab districts — Jalandhar, Pathankot, Nawanshahr and SAS Nagar — have been declared hotspot districts as per the Union Health Ministry, and the State had, so far, been conducting these tests in Jalandhar and SAS Nagar.
Health Secretary Anurag Aggarwal said that as part of the combat strategy, the Department was putting all 24 containment zones in the State on the COVA app, with no services to be allowed to operate in these areas.
Mahajan informed that the State had earlier received 1000 of the 1,01,000 lakh Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDKs) ordered from ICMR, with another 10,000 received on Friday. The 10,000 kits ordered from private vendors were expected to start coming from April 18. The number of rapid tests conducted in the state were increasing by the day, she said.
Of the 527 rapid tests conducted with the 1000 kits received till Thursday, only seven were found positive, said Vini, adding that all these tests were conducted in Jalandhar and SAS Nagar districts.
Samples of positive IgM cases were sent for RT-PCR testing for further confirmation, and one of the results from Mohali came out negative, while the others were awaited, she added.
PUNJAB PREPARING FOR PROJECTED SPIKE
Mahajan said that the State was geared up for the next 30 days, and preparing for a projected spike.
The local private manufacturers were supporting the government with ‘Make in Punjab’ initiatives that had led to several companies in the State getting approvals for PPE kits, masks etc, so that the state had no shortage of essential medical equipment, she added.
Currently, the State has 1900 Oxygen cylinders available for use, while 1200 more have been tied up from various agencies. It is proposed to procure 2000 more cylinders for which the requirement is being sent to NHM, she said.
The number of ventilators in government medical colleges was being ramped from 102 to 220, said the Health Secretary.
COMPLY WITH ALL GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF COVID POSITIVE BODIES FOR THEIR CREMATION: CAPT TO HEALTH SECY
Expressing concern over incidents of family members not willing to cremate victims of the coronavirus, the Chief Minister directed the Health Secretary to ensure that all guidelines for the management of the bodies of the deceased, and for their cremation, are strictly complied with, in line with the protocols provided for Covid-19 safety.
The Health Secretary informed the Chief Ministers that all guidelines were being strictly implemented, including covering the bodies in plastic and submerging them in bleaching powder or solution.
If the family does not come forward for the cremation, or there is no claimant after 48 hours of death, then the local administration has been mandated to take care of it, he said.