Amarinder reviews preparedness, rapid response team set up

CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday reviewed the state’s preparedness to tackle the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) and directed the health department to keep close tabs on the situation.

The chief minister, who has decided to personally monitor the situation on day-to-day basis, has appealed to the people to stay away from congested and crowded places, as a preventive measure. He also ordered the health department to gear up, in mission mode, to deal with the situation. A State Rapid Response Team has been constituted, with four senior doctors, for the purpose. A control room has been established in each district, with District Rapid Response Teams to maintain a 24x7 strict vigil. These are in addition to the state-level control room (phone numbers 8872090029/0171-2920074) to respond to any complaint/crisis.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the arrangements to combat any exigency arising out of COVID-19, the CM on Thursday asked the principal secretary health to immediately issue an advisory to educate people about the symptoms and precautions to be taken in view of the virus threat. He also asked the chief secretary to direct the deputy commissioners to instruct the field staff in their respective districts to assist the health department in its mass awareness campaign.

Health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh Sidhu informed the CM that there were a total of 5,795 persons in Punjab with travel history to affected countries. “As on Thursday, 13 persons were found symptomatic for COVID-19. The department is fully geared to tackle any exigency,” said Sidhu, urging people not to panic.

Principal secretary, health, Anurag Aggarwal said the department had already designated the state nodal officer as the surveillance officer and district nodal officers also in place to manage the situation.

Nearly 70,106 passengers have so far been screened at the airports/border check posts — 47,671 at Amritsar Airport, 4,943 at International Airport Mohali, 5,401 at Wagah border and 12,091 at Dera Baba Nanak.