No need to fear as no case of new variant in Punjab yet: Health Minister

Punjab fully prepared to deal with any Covid emergency

Chandigarh: Amid rising Covid infections in China and other parts of the world, Punjab Health and Family welfare minister Mr Chetan Singh Jauramajra took stock of the mock drill held at District Hospital here today. The Health Minister visited the 120-bed special Covid Isolation Ward in the hospital and inquired about the availability of oxygen, ventilators, health staff, essential medicines including Covid vaccination and other Covid facilities. He specially inspected the cleanliness in the isolation ward and instructed the officials to leave no stone unturned in providing better and standard facilities to the Covid patients. It may be mentioned that in the face of the rapid increase in Covid positive cases in some countries including China, the central government had directed states to conduct mock drills in health institutions on December 27.

Later talking to the journalists, Mr Jauramajra said that there are adequate arrangements and full preparedness in the government health institutions in the state to deal with any emergent situation. “People must not panic, as there are a total of 38 active Covid cases and no case of new variant of Covid in the state.” said the minister. He added that about 15 thousand beds are ready in government hospitals across Punjab. Apart from this there is provision of 1000 beds of level 3 and about 1000 ventilators. He said that oxygen plants are in sufficient number in the state and they have been run and tested as well. In response to a question, he said that the government has no plan yet to impose any restrictions related to Covid or to make wearing masks mandatory in the state. Currently, people are being advised to wear masks and wash their hands frequently to avoid this deadly disease.

On this occasion, Director, Health and Family Welfare Dr. Ranjit Singh Ghotra, Civil Surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur, Medical college principal Dr. Bhavneet Bharti, SMO Dr. Vijay Bhagat, Covid Nodal Officer Dr Harmandeep Kaur, Dr. Parminder Singh, Dr. Rajveer Singh etc. were present.