With the state continuing to report high Covid positivity and CFR, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday ordered the extension of all existing restrictions up to May 31, with directions for their strict enforcement.
The Chief Minister said the DCs will continue to determine the opening of shops in a staggered manner and enforce other curbs to check the spread of Covid-19, especially in rural areas. They can also make suitable amendments based on local conditions as long as they do not dilute the state’s overall restrictions, said the Chief Minister.
The district authorities shall continue to ensure strict implementation of all the directives of the MHA/state government on Covid-appropriate behaviour, including social distancing norms, regulating crowds in marketplaces and public transport, and the imposition of penalties prescribed for violation of norms.
Reviewing the state’s Covid situation at a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister said that while the restrictions so far had shown results, with some decline in day-on-day positivity and cases coming down from to 6000 in this period, there was a need to extend them in view of the high positivity rate of 13.1% and 2.4% CFR.
Singh also directed the district administrations to investigate complaints of private hospitals overcharging patients and directed the police department to crack down on those found hoarding or black-marketing any Covid-related essentials or medicines.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the spread of the new fungal disorder associated with Covid and directed the health department to ensure that medicines to treat it are procured beforehand and to re-examine the SOP to see if there is anything that can be done to prevent the disease from occurring.
On the availability of oxygen, the Punjab CM said that while the state, through judicious measures, had been able to prevent any mishap, the situation should be closely monitored by the Health Department. The state government had successfully arranged for PSA plants, oxygen concentrators, etc. which will further help tackle oxygen shortages, he added. The state is expecting over 2500 oxygen concentrators on the ground within this month, he said, directing the department to ensure the best use of the same.
Captain Amarinder further directed the Health and Medical Education departments to continue to ensure that there is no problem at any point with respect to hospital capacity, especially with regard to L-3 beds.
He asked the DCs to ensure that food kits are delivered to those in quarantine, reiterating that nobody should be allowed to go to sleep hungry. He also complimented the DGP on the successful launch of the `Bhojan Helpline’.
The Chief Minister also directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure strict compliance of the restrictions, while appreciating the efforts of various departments.