As a preventive measure to keep further spread of corona virus under check, Punjab Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday announced that Barnala and Patti Jails will be made quarantine centres with immediate effect. As many 412 inmates, lodged in these jails, have already been shifted in other jails of the state, he said.
“Any new inmate would be sent to these jails for quarantine after proper medical examination. This preventive step had been taken to avoid any possible danger of corona virus in the jails of the State,” said Randhawa, adding that any symptomatic inmate would only be sent to Barnala and Patti sub jails for quarantine.
Any new such inmate would be sent to these quarantine jails after his thorough examination as per the health protocol and advisories, he added.
COVID SUSPECT FLEE FROM ISOLATION WARD, CAUGHT
A Covid-19 suspect, who had fled from the isolation ward of a hospital in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, was caught by police on Thursday. Yusuf Khan’s samples had been sent for testing, and he was under quarantine when he fled from the hospital on Wednesday night, creating scare among the people in the district and surrounding areas. He was a resident of Nagrota in Himachal Pradesh. Acting swiftly, the Punjab Police arrested the 40-year-old man from Chabbewal town in Hoshiarpur the next day. Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Jaswinder Singh said that Khan was referred from Dasuya to Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital. “We sent his samples for checking on Tuesday. He fled from the sample collection room by breaking a plywood piece which was fitted in the window against the space meant for AC,” he said.
8620 COPS, 6483 VOLUNTEERS ON DUTY IN VILLAGES, MANDIS
As many as 8620 Punjab Police personnel, along with 6483 volunteers, are maintaining a round-the-clock vigil at the mandis and in villages to ensure smooth procurement operations amid the Covid-19 crisis, with stringent guidelines for their own protection and for strict enforcement of health and sanitation protocols as well as social distancing measures at all procurement centres. DGP Dinkar Gupta said that as part of two-pronged strategy, the frontline police personnel on duty at mandis have been equipped to protect farmers and others coming to these centres, while also ensuring their own protection.
All police personnel have been provided with face masks, gloves, hand sanitizers etc and also briefed about their proper usage. Police personnel having health issues, especially those relating to heart and respiratory issues, are not deployed for frontline duty. They have also been tasked with maintaining social distancing at procurement centres, and checking the passes issued to farmers and arhtiyas to avoid crowding and congestion in the mandis.
PUNJAB LAUNCHES SPECIAL COVID HELPLINE FOR ADVICE
To effectively address and resolve medical and stress related issues during lockdown, Punjab Government has launched a special helpline — 1800-180-4104 — for citizens to connect with a network of senior doctors over tele-conference and get medical advice on Covid-19 and other related concerns. State Covid Control Room Team member Ravi Bhagat said that a panel of expert doctors have been duly trained about the platform, its protocol and functionalities to counsel anxiety related issues in the wake of the lockdown.
The focus would be to identify and prioritize cases for emergency medical attention with a wider technological reach for people from less privileged sections, Bhagat said underlining the need to not overwhelm our health apparatus. “This counseling shall also help identify cases for isolation, home quarantine and those who require medical attention. The cases shall be notified to the government for further tracking and action,” he said adding that this feature has also been added to COVA Punjab mobile application available on Android PlayStore and IOS AppStore.