To prevent the emerging threats of COVID-19 in Punjab, the Group of Ministers on Wednesday reviewed the preparations being done by all stakeholder departments so far. Instructions have been issued to immediately buy 1000 more ‘Personal Protection Kits’ (PPK) for the doctors and other staff who will administer the treatment of affected patients if necessary. Besides, all Deputy Commissioners were directed not to grant any permission for big gathering programs.
The Group of Ministers, consisted Medical Education and Research Minister OP Soni, Rural Development Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and Food and Civil Supply Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, have reviewed the preparations and action taken by the concerned departments to proactively prevent the Corona Virus threat, said an official spokesperson of Punjab Government.
The State Principal Secretary (Health) Anurag Aggarwal apprised the meeting that at present, only one case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the State who has come from Italy with his family.“Till date, 14 suspected cases have been reported in State while 60 cases have been confirmed in India,” he said.
Aggarwal said that passengers, who are coming from high risk countries, are being admitted in isolation ward for 14 days; whereas a person who is coming from low risk countries has to submit the undertaking that he will also remain in home isolation for 14 days and will not meet anyone during this time.
Soon, mock drill will also be conducted in State regarding Corona Virus, he added.
The State Principal Secretary (Medical Education) DK Tiwari said that pre-measures have been made by the medical colleges under which special training have been imparted to the staff of all three Government Medical Colleges, and in next phase, this dedicated training will be imparted to the Health Department.
He added that the Central Government has given the nod to conduct the primary test of Corona Virus in Medical College Amritsar, Patiala and PGIMER Chandigarh.