Enforce closure of vends by 6.30pm in cities: Capt to DGP
LIQUOR SHOPS TO REMAIN OPEN TILL 10PM IN RURAL AREAS TILL AUGUST 31, AFTER WHICH THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL REVIEW THE DECISION
CHANDIGARH :Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday directed director general of police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to strictly enforce closure of liquor vends in cities and towns by 6.30pm, as per the existing guidelines, to check the spike in Covid-19 cases in Punjab.
The vends will remain open till 10pm in rural areas for now, as per the guidelines in force till August 31, after which the decision will be reviewed, said an official spokesperson. The CM issued the orders during a virtual meeting with officials and medical experts to review the Covid-19 situation in the state.
The CM also asked the health officials about the alleged mismanagement at the Faridkot medical college, as raised by MLA Kushaldeep Singh ‘Kikki’ Dhillon. Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan informed him that an IAS officer, who is also an MBBS doctor, has been deputed to oversee Covid care management at the hospital.
Pointing out that Punjab was at the bottom of the list of 10 states with the highest cases, Mahajan said the fatality rate was a matter of concern and the state was preparing for the surge, with the support of private hospitals.
She said that during a video conference with the Union cabinet secretary, it was decided that hydroxychloroquine be given to corona patients in home quarantine and their contacts. “The state government has so far received only Rs 101 crore from the Centre for pandemic expenses, for which utilisation certificate has been sent to them. Another Rs 30 crore is expected to come soon, but the state government has actually sought much more,” she added.
The government’s adviser on health Dr KK Talwar, in his presentation, said the focus would be on targetting patients above the age of 40, among whom the fatality rate was higher. Health secretary Hussan Lal said that daily testing had increased from 17,000 to 24,000 a day over the past week and will touch 30,000 by the end of August. Positivity, in contrast, had come down from 9.31% for the week of August 3-10 to 8.13% for August 11-18 to 7.27% for August 19-25, he added.
DGP Gupta suggested carrying the closures forward, with gyms staying closed and restaurants to be allowed only for home delivery. He said the police had lost 11 officers to the coronavirus so far, with 1,600 active cases in the force.
MANSA VILLAGES SUPPORT TESTING TO GET MORE FUNDS :ADMN
Villages extending support to Covid sampling will be entitled to more development activities in Mansa district. Deputy commissioner Mohinder Pal said the strategy was meant to ensure public participation in a fight against coronavirus.
“Health department teams frequently face resistance in sample collection. There is a lot of wrong information about the virus detection and care programmes to which a section of villagers is reacting adversely,” he said.