CHANDIGARH: Failing to get any treatment in Delhi, symptomatic persons are coming to Punjab to get them tested either they are positive or negative.
Disclosing this here today in press communiqué, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that claiming the world class health facilities, Delhi Government proved fail to conduct COVID-19 test of even symptomatic persons in their Government hospitals. About 97 persons coming from Delhi have been tested positive since one month after that treatment services were being providing to them by Punjab Government.
Mr. Sidhu said that to avoid any unprecedented situation, he already directed the Civil Surgeons to keep close watch on state borders so as to ensure screening of every person coming from Delhi.
He said that it is matter of concern that large number of symptomatic people are moving from Delhi to Punjab for getting all free of cost treatment facilities. He said that it has come into light that due to massive level of outbreak occurred in National Capital, people are battling for corona test as well as for getting beds in Government hospitals. He said that it is shocking to even imagine the present critical situation of Delhi where common people are crying for help and moving from one hospital to another hospital to just give samples for corona test but there is nobody from Government side to address their problems and complaints.
The Minister said that hundreds of videos of such incidents are viral on social media which clearly exposing the worse arrangements of Delhi Government made to deal with COVID-19 patients.
Highlighting the present scenario of Punjab, the Minister said that the about 80 percent of corona patients in Punjab are found asymptomatic and recovery rate of Punjab is more than percent 90 percent with 99.9 percent contact tracing of all COVID-19 patients.
Mr. Sidhu said that as this virus is highly infectious, it spread very rapidly and Punjab government under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh responded quickly with closing of bus services, announcement of curfew from 23 March which was also such first lockdown in country.
Sensing trouble the Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has ordered to make preparations and awareness regarding COVID-19 in the first fortnight of March itself, making Punjab well prepared to deal with health emergency related to spread of COVID-19. Deputy Commissioners were directed to tackle this disease and were provided adequate funds to deal with the crisis.
Now, to overcome from any situation like Delhi, on the directive of Chief Minister Punjab, Health department has commenced the house to house screening under which teams of health department have been visiting the every house of State to collect the data of every person having symptoms of virus.
In order to ensure strict compliance of guidelines regarding home quarantine, the instructions have been already issued to all Civil Surgeons to conduct thorough checking of passengers under home quarantine especially coming from affected States & Countries so as to contain the spread among the populations. Challans are being issued and legal actions are being taken against violators he said.