Worst spike, Punjab extends curbs

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, March 30

With March turning out to be the worst month since September 2020, the Punjab Government today ordered extension of all Covid-19 restrictions till April 10.

After September, March worst with 55K cases, 981 deaths in Punjab

The state has reported 54,614 infections and 981 deaths in this month so far. The figures are next only to those reported in September last year (around 60,000 cases and 2,000 deaths).

Reviewing the Covid situation with the Chief Secretary and other officials, the CM said all restrictions would now remain in force till April 10, after which these would be reviewed again.

The CM also ordered the launch of a vaccination drive in prisons across the state. The step comes in the wake of 40 women inmates testing positive for Covid-19 in the Nabha Open Jail.

The CM asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to issue directions for carrying out testing and vaccination in busy areas. He asked all DCs and Civil Surgeons to identify places where mobile Covid vaccination centres could be pressed into service.

Getting vaccination should be made easier for all eligible government employees and others, the CM said.

The Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, said infections and deaths were rising rapidly in some of the districts, with projections presented by the CMC, Ludhiana, showing a steep rise in the number of cases and the peak around April 6. As per estimates, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala are likely to contribute more cases.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said 90,360 persons had been challaned and tested for Covid. He requested for a special vaccination drive in police lines. All districts have been ordered to increase the number of vaccination centres.

Dr KK Talwar, Adviser, Health & Medical Education, suggested that routine non-Covid treatment in select private hospitals might be deferred by 2-4 weeks.