Punjab to ramp up testing to 30,000/day

Chandigarh, August 20

In a bid to ramp up the state’s Covid battle preparedness further amid spike in cases, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered increase in testing to 30,000 a day, with at least 10 persons in the immediate circle of every positive patient to be tested.

Reviewing the situation through a video-conference with top health and medical experts and officials, the Chief Minister directed the Health Department to supply ventilators free of cost to medical colleges and private hospitals. He asked the department to provide manpower such as anesthetists to the hospitals, which had witnessed an increase in Covid patients in the wake of cap on treatment rates by the government.

Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan informed the meeting that tenders had been floated for the procurement of nine more RT-PCR machines and the same were expected by next week. She also stressed on increasing rapid antigen testing, as well as augmentation of level 3 bed capacity. — TNS