Amid reports of a new strain of COVID virus spreading in some parts of the world, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the people to exercise extreme caution and strictly follow all safety norms.
Pointing out that even those who recover from COVID suffer long-term after-effects, including weakness, the Chief Minister said that while the spread of the pandemic in the State may have slowed down for now, the crisis is not yet over.
“The last flight that landed in Amritsar from the UK on Tuesday had reported eight positive cases,” he said, hoping that the new strain of the virus had not entered Punjab.
During his #AskCaptain Facebook Live telecast, the Chief Minister hoped that there would be no resurgence of cases, nor spread of the new strain, in the state.
Pointing out that several of his colleagues and officers had tested positive due to their bigger exposure to the people, Capt Amarinder urged all to strictly adhere to wearing of masks and maintaining social distance in order to save themselves, their families and Punjab.
Capt Amarinder said that the COVID crisis had led to delay in implementing 50 percent subsidized fare for women in state-run buses but the same would be done soon.
“Details of the scheme and documentation has been completed and the scheme would be put in motion soon,” he said in response to a Bathinda citizen’s question.
Replying to a Batala resident’s question on filling up of leftover vacancies to the tune of 42,000, Capt Amarinder said that the delay had also been on account of the pandemic. The next cabinet meeting will approve recruitment to fill 50,000 vacancies, he added.
Responding to a complaint from a Ferozpur resident about OPDs still not functional in government hospitals of his region, the Chief Minister said that all OPDs had already been ordered to be opened up, and assured the resident that he will get the matter investigated to ensure that the OPDs resume normal functioning.