As many as 4.6 lakh residents have been covered till Sunday under the ongoing door to door screening for coronavirus symptoms in the city.
“4,64,600 persons have been covered in the city so far. On Sunday, 64,061 persons were screened by 67 medical teams of GMSH- Sector 16 in areas like Milk Colony, Dhanas, EWS Dhanas, Sector 20 and Sector 30,” said UT Adviser Manoj Parida.
He said that the entire city could be covered within a period of 10 days.
Chandigarh has an estimated population of 12 lakh.
On a question that the medical teams are not using any equipment and only inquiring about symptoms of Covid-19 in the residents, the Adviser said that this is preliminary screening and residents should be honest about any symptoms of the virus. Every suspect case will be taken to the hospital for testing, he added
He also informed that IMTECH Chandigarh has also started testing samples for coronavirus in the city.
Parida further said that the Administration is waiting for detailed orders from Central Government regarding functioning of offices. The union territory of Chandigarh will follow the Central Government pattern for operating important offices only with skeleton staff from April 14 onwards.
Curfew was imposed in Chandigarh on March 24 (12 am) till April 14 to ensure social distancing and combat the spread of Covid-19. However, curfew relaxation from 11 am to 3 pm was allowed from March 27 onwards by the UT Administration to facilitate the residents to buy essential items in the city.
Chandigarh has so far reported 21 positive coronavirus cases, out of which seven have recovered.
Meanwhile, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on Sunday directed the UT officers to maintain the supply lines of essential commodities at all costs.
During his daily review meeting, the Administrator also said that adequate stock of vegetables, medicines, essential items are available and people should not resort to unnecessary over-purchasing.
The Administrator was apprized that the Administration continued its strict implementation of curfew orders in the city with police intensifying checking of the borders and apprehending people roaming outdoors without passes. Action was also taken against the people, who did not wear masks in public places. Four people were arrested on Sunday in this regard.