Capt urges PM for fiscal package to combat crisis

CHANDIGARH : Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a fiscal package to combat the coronavirus crisis and permission to get tests done at private hospitals and laboratories in the state.

During a video conference convened by Modi with all the CMS to review the situation, Amarinder expressed concern over the escalating crisis, a government release said.

Singh said there was an urgent need to scale up the testing for coronavirus and the Centre should allow reputed private medical colleges and super-specialty hospitals immediately.

He also suggested that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) should be allowed to test close contacts of confirmed cases even without symptoms.

The CM also requested the PM to immediately extend the travel ban on international flights for two weeks instead of one to prevent continued entry of NRIS into Punjab, and to enable the government to track and test all those who had already come in.

He also urged the prime minister to allow payment of wages to MNREGA workers who could come to work as a preventive

measure in view of Covid-19.

The Punjab chief minister further recommended that additional five kgs of wheat per person should be provided under the Food Security Mission to help out the people in this hour of crisis.

He also suggested that the Centre should soon come out with a comprehensive proposal to mitigate

the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.

Singh assured the PM that the state was fully prepared to combat any exigency arising out of coronavirus. He said the state machinery, especially the health department, was geared to provide the best possible treatment to symptomatic patients.