Send samples for genome sequencing, Punjab hospitals told

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

To rule out the presence of the latest Covid variant, the Health Department has asked all Civil Surgeons to conduct the genome sequencing of each and every positive sample.

Director, Health Services, Dr Ranjit Singh Ghotra said the decision had been taken keeping in mind the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the US, Korea, Brazil and China. “It will help us to check the presence of the latest Covid variant BF.7 at early stages, so that we could devise a strategy early,” he said.

Checks recommended

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infections
• International travellers and their contacts
• Contacts of Covid patients
• Vulnerable populationPrisons, old-age homes, orphanages, shelter homes
• Persons with co-morbidities
• Test on request

The department has also given targets of sampling to each district. At the stage, the state will collect 10,000 samples every day. These include 7,000 RT-PCR and 3,000 antigen tests.

The department has sent a file to the Home Department to make people follow the Covid safety norms.

As far as the current Covid scenario is concerned, there are just eight active cases in the state. And since April 1, 24,849 cases, including 210 deaths, have been reported.

Health Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra said the department was fully prepared to deal with any kind of situation. He said they had taken stock of beds reserved for Covid patients as well as oxygen status.

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