Punjab to have mobile testing vans

CHANDIGARH: Additional chief secretary Vini Mahajan on Monday said mobile testing vans are being made operational to increase testing in Punjab.

During a video-conference, Mahajan said 65 more ventilators, more than 1.5 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and over 47,000 N-95 masks, as well as 13 lakh more triple layer masks had been ordered.

Protective equipment was being procured from all possible sources, Mahajan said, adding that PPE samples of Ludhiana’s Evershine company had received approval from the Central Testing Lab, paving the way for orders for the kits to be placed on priority basis. The firm had the capacity to produce 1,000 such masks a day, with a lead time of five days. She apprised the CM that manpower for 20,000 beds had been identified through expression of interest on the health department portal from among the public. Training of manpower will start from April 1.

‘RELEASE GST ARREARS’

Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal stressed the need to press the Centre for immediate release of the GST arrears of the state, and also suggested that every minister and MLA should donate a month’s salary and all government employees give one week’s salary to the COVID Relief Fund.

NO RELAXATION TO BRICK KILNS

CM Capt Amarinder Singh said no general relaxation has been provided to industry and brick kilns to resume operations. He said they could utilise the services of migrant labourers if they could provide food and shelter, while ensuring strict adherence to all safety protocols.