Punjab Health Department will make mobile testing vans operational in all districts having pandemic hotspots to conduct community testing for SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness).
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarainder Singh has also ordered an aggressive drive to scale up the isolation beds to 5,000 in the next few days, and even further going forward, to meet any eventuality. Though there are no confirmed estimates available, the State Government is preparing for the worst case scenario, said Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh.
The Chief Secretary said that manpower recruitment and training has also started on war footing to ensure that the State is fully prepared in the coming weeks, with 2,500 beds in 20 facilities in the State ready for utilization, and the number would be continuously increased along with support facilities.
Reviewing the availability of essential medical equipment to handle COVID-19 cases in the state, the Chief Minister has asked the Health Department to order the necessary protective gear, ventilators, masks etc on priority.
According to the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Vini Mahajan, continuous testing of samples prepared indigenously by Punjab companies was being ensured and orders for approved equipment had already been placed.
Capt Amarinder has also asked the Deputy Commissioners to personally oversee the arrangements for food and other essentials as part of the relief operations launched across the state amid curfew or lockdown restrictions.
Given the inability of beneficiaries to reach Banks or ATMs, the Chief Minister also directed the DCs to ensure disbursement of social security pensions, old age pensions and benefits to the various categories of beneficiaries through Business Correspondents (BCs) instead of direct bank transfers.
ACS (Home) Satish Chandra has issued detailed guidelines to all the Administrative Secretaries, DGP, Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Zonal IGPs, Commissioners of Police, DIGs and SSPs. The banks have been asked to augment the numbers of BCs if required, and also to approach the district authorities for bulk passes for the business correspondents.
Though banks have been allowed to operate through the week in Punjab, they have been directed to ensure that all social distancing and other protocols are maintained to check the spread of corona virus. The banks have been advised to remain open for public between 10 am to 2 pm.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Police continued with its relief operations, reaching out to more than 1.8 crore people on Wednesday with dry and cooked food rations. In Baranala, the police has mobilized a special bus for distribution of essentials purchased out of a corpus of Rs 40 lakhs, created with contribution from the force and prominent personalities of the district.
The State Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said that the curfew restrictions are being strictly enforced in the State, in coordination with the District Administration.
ALLOW COMPANIES TO USE CSR FUNDS TO HELP STATE GOVT: CAPT WRITES TO PM
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow companies in Punjab to use their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution to assist the State Government in its efforts against COVID-19.
Capt Amarinder, in a letter to the Prime Minister, asked him to direct the Corporate Affairs Ministry to include CM Relief Fund in the list of CSR activities in the Companies Act-2013 in national interest.
“This step would immensely help the State Government to meet the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic more effectively, besides providing medical and other assistance to the poor and needy residents as well as migrant labour, in the wake of the nationwide lockdown,” he wrote.
Capt Amarinder requested the Prime Minister for an early decision in this regard, given the magnitude of the calamity, coupled with the resultant humanitarian crisis. He pointed out that companies in Punjab were seeking permission to use their CSR contribution to assist the State Government.