With Covid cases rising in the state, Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered stricter restrictions beginning tomorrow, including extension of night curfew timings (8pm to 5am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres, sports complexes, with restaurants and hotels to be open only for takeaway and home delivery from Monday to Saturday.
Rates for RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) by private labs have been reduced to ₹450 and ₹300, respectively (with additional charges for home collection of the samples), in a bid to promote increased testing.
Gatherings of more than 20 persons for weddings/cremations have been banned across the state, with prior approval of the district administration needed for all gatherings of more than 10 persons, except for cremation.
The new restrictions, which also include closure of all malls, shops and markets on Sunday, coupled with the ones imposed earlier, will remain in effect till April 30, announced the CM, directing the police department to strictly enforce the restrictions. All weekly markets have been ordered to shut down.
The CM ordered that all people flying into Punjab should have a negative RT-PCR not more than 72 hours old, else they would have to undergo RAT testing at the airport.
He also ordered that people who have attended large gatherings anywhere (religious/ political/social) to be mandatorily home quarantined for 5 days and tested as per protocol.
He directed the transport department that number of people in buses/taxis and autos be restricted to 50% of the capacity.
The Chief Minister has ordered postponement of the recruitment exams for Patwaris and directed for Medical Education department to hold online examination for 1st, 2nd & 3rd year MBBS/BDS/BAMS and first year nursing students.
No elective surgeries in any govt or private hospitals till May 15
While reviewing the situation in private and government hospitals, the CM directed 75% reservation of L-3 facilities for Covid in all private hospitals providing critical Covid care. He said that no elective surgeries should be conducted in any government or private hospitals till May 15 and all OPD patients must be tested, besides encouraging them to get vaccinated.
The 104 Helpline shall function 24X7 to provide information on bed availability in government and private hospitals. Oxygen requirement and availability will be strictly monitored and ensured for both government and private hospitals by a Committee comprising PSIC, Direction Industry and MD, PHSC, while private hospitals will be supported in supply of essential medicines such as Remdesivir, Tocilizumab etc, for which MD, PHSC shall be the nodal officer. All elective surgeries in medical colleges also stand postponed for now.
The containment/micro-containment strategy was left to the DCs to decide, depending on the situation in their respective zones or areas.
Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan said police personnel are being placed at the disposal of the Health Department, along with Education Department personnel including teachers, for more aggressive tracing of contacts of Covid positive persons.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said the entire force was being mobilised to enforce stricter measures, while contingency planning was being done to ensure that the department remains on top of the situation. Police nakas were being set up around malls and marriage palaces to check violation of the Covid restrictions, he said, adding that as many as 600 Covid monitors had been installed.
