Punjab curbs extended till June 10

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

The Punjab Government today extended Covid restrictions in the state till June 10, but removed the cap on the number of passengers in personal vehicles and allowed elective surgeries in both private and government hospitals.

With a decline in Covid cases, the OPD services have been allowed to resume in government hospitals. Some government hospitals had already started OPD operations at 50 per cent capacity, which would be scaled up to 100 per cent. The elective surgeries were discontinued on April 12 to ensure adequate beds for serious Covid patients.

The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. While the limit on the number of passengers in personal vehicles is being removed, the curbs on commercial passenger vehicles and taxis shall continue to be in place.

The CM directed the health authorities to strengthen the Covid care infrastructure to deal with a possible third wave and seek 500 paediatric ventilators from the Centre. The meeting was informed that all the 809 ventilators received earlier under the PM Cares Fund had been distributed and 136 of them were not functioning.

Capt Amarinder directed that all mid-level IAS and PCS transfers in various departments be put on hold till the Covid crisis continued.

Taking note of overcharging by some private hospitals, the CM asked the health authorities to ensure hospitals displayed 11x5 feet boards at their entrance specifying service charges. He directed continuous monitoring of high-risk individuals and pregnant women in home isolation through special teams.

Given the comfortable oxygen situation currently, the CM directed that oxygen may now be allowed to be used for essential non-medical purposes. However, a three-day buffer stock of medical oxygen would have to be maintained. The daily oxygen demand in Punjab has come down from 304 MT to 236 MT over the last 10 days.

Passenger cap goes

• Limit on passengers in personal vehicles goes, but cap remains on commercial vehicles
• All mid-level IAS, PCS transfers on hold till Covid pandemic continues
• To check overcharging, private hospitals to display 11x5 feet board at entrance specifying service charges
• Oxygen now allowed to be used for essential non-medical purposes
• 500 paediatric ventilators to be sought from the Centre

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