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CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government decided on Saturday to screen all returnees from abroad, saying it cannot rely on medical examination by other states following an increase in the infection count.
It also decided to increase coronavirus testing, and Prime Minister Amarinder Singh ordered the capacity to be increased to 6,000 tests per day in mid-May.
The states’ coronavirus count increased substantially in recent days due to large numbers of Sikh pilgrims evacuated from the Nanded Maharashtra tests positive for the virus.
So far, 292 pilgrims have been found infected with the virus, according to a government statement.
On Saturday, the state’s coronavirus count skyrocketed to 772 with 187 new cases, of which 142 were state pilgrims.
The government is also facing an attack by the opposition for “mismanagement” of the evacuation process, under which more than 3,500 Sikh pilgrims have returned to Punjab.
Pointing to cases of infection among pilgrims, Prime Minister Amarinder Singh in a video conference with state ministers said it was clear that Punjab cannot trust tests carried out on his people by other states.
He said the state will have to do its own tests instead of going through tests done by other states.
He directed the health department to increase testing capacity to 6,000 per day by May 15, instead of the previous target of 5,800 per day by the end of May.
In response to a suggestion from some ministers, the CM agreed to examine its proposal for home quarantine of returnees in coordination with village sarpanches and panchayats.
Referring to the fact that several Nanded gurdwara staff members have also tested positive for the infection, the CM said this with Shiromani Akali Dal’s claim that there was no case of infection being destroyed.
Once again, he asked the Opposition not to allow himself to “politicize petty” on the subject.
This was a crucial moment in the state’s fight against Covid-19, the CM said. In directing the health department to develop a plan to move forward on its schedule to increase testing capacity, the CM emphasized the need to be prepared for the worst.
Singh said he had already asked the chief secretary to coordinate with the Center to increase testing capacity to 20,000 per day to cope with the influx of migrants and others expected to return to the state in the coming weeks in the wake of the new directives of the government of India.
The rapid test should also be expanded exponentially, to at least two lakh, once it resumes, the chief secretary said.
The CM said it also asked the Baba Farid University vice chancellor to explore the feasibility of establishing a testing facility in Jalandhar, for which the government was ready to sanction an immediate grant of Rs 1 crore.
The CM told the cabinet that it had appointed officers to coordinate with each state to facilitate the return of Punjabis.
Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu assured the CM that all pending test reports will be erased in a day or two to ensure there is no delay in identifying and addressing positive cases.
He said arrangements to augment testing with a private laboratory were also finalized and 2,000 samples were sent to them from across the state on Saturday.
A proposal has been sent to the Center to establish four new laboratories in Barnala, Rupnagar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur.
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It also decided to increase coronavirus testing, and Prime Minister Amarinder Singh ordered the capacity to be increased to 6,000 tests per day in mid-May.
The states’ coronavirus count increased substantially in recent days due to large numbers of Sikh pilgrims evacuated from the Nanded Maharashtra tests positive for the virus.
So far, 292 pilgrims have been found infected with the virus, according to a government statement.
On Saturday, the state’s coronavirus count skyrocketed to 772 with 187 new cases, of which 142 were state pilgrims.
The government is also facing an attack by the opposition for “mismanagement” of the evacuation process, under which more than 3,500 Sikh pilgrims have returned to Punjab.
Pointing to cases of infection among pilgrims, Prime Minister Amarinder Singh in a video conference with state ministers said it was clear that Punjab cannot trust tests carried out on his people by other states.
He said the state will have to do its own tests instead of going through tests done by other states.
He directed the health department to increase testing capacity to 6,000 per day by May 15, instead of the previous target of 5,800 per day by the end of May.
In response to a suggestion from some ministers, the CM agreed to examine its proposal for home quarantine of returnees in coordination with village sarpanches and panchayats.
Referring to the fact that several Nanded gurdwara staff members have also tested positive for the infection, the CM said this with Shiromani Akali Dal’s claim that there was no case of infection being destroyed.
Once again, he asked the Opposition not to allow himself to “politicize petty” on the subject.
This was a crucial moment in the state’s fight against Covid-19, the CM said. In directing the health department to develop a plan to move forward on its schedule to increase testing capacity, the CM emphasized the need to be prepared for the worst.
Singh said he had already asked the chief secretary to coordinate with the Center to increase testing capacity to 20,000 per day to cope with the influx of migrants and others expected to return to the state in the coming weeks in the wake of the new directives of the government of India.
The rapid test should also be expanded exponentially, to at least two lakh, once it resumes, the chief secretary said.
The CM said it also asked the Baba Farid University vice chancellor to explore the feasibility of establishing a testing facility in Jalandhar, for which the government was ready to sanction an immediate grant of Rs 1 crore.
The CM told the cabinet that it had appointed officers to coordinate with each state to facilitate the return of Punjabis.
Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu assured the CM that all pending test reports will be erased in a day or two to ensure there is no delay in identifying and addressing positive cases.
He said arrangements to augment testing with a private laboratory were also finalized and 2,000 samples were sent to them from across the state on Saturday.
A proposal has been sent to the Center to establish four new laboratories in Barnala, Rupnagar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur.
