In Sangrur, villagers pass resolution against testing

Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, August 25

In a serious trouble for the Health Department, residents of various villages in the district have started opposing sampling for Covid-19. Some villages have been making announcements from public address systems in this regard while others have passed resolutions against testing.

In their resolution, Fatehgarh Chhana residents have alleged that since the Health Department did not have the required system to conduct testing properly and incorrect reports are being given, showing negative patients as positive, there was panic in all villages. They have also alleged that isolation centres lacked the mandatory facilities and to top it all, “as per social media reports, organ trade was flourishing under the garb of Covid deaths”.

“We have passed a resolution and requested the Health Department not to conduct a test of any asymptomatic patient. If there is any symptomatic patient, we will get his testing done. However, the patients will not be sent outside the village as we will make arrangements at the village government school,” said Rajvir Singh, a resident of Fatehgarh Chhana.

Similarly, residents of Deh Kalan village also refused to get themselves tested and the Health Department authorities had to return empty handed.

Ravinder Singh, Sarpanch of Deh Kalan village, said: “Some area residents are spreading false information and discouraging others to keep them away from testing. We are trying to convince the residents to get tested.”

Residents of Chatha Nanhera village have also made announcements from the village address system that only symptomatic patients will give samples and positive patients will undergo isolation at the village school.

Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Raj Kumar confirmed that their teams were facing problems in many villages. “Villagers are unwilling to give samples but our officials have been trying their best to convince residents to get tested as we can prevent the spread of the virus only after testing and isolating positive patients,” he added.

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