Blaming people coming in from Delhi for the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, Punjab has made COVID-19 screening mandatory for those traveling from the national capital at the state border.
According to the state government, as many as 43,000 people ha entered Punjab in the last one month, leading to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the state. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu claimed that Delhi health infrastructure has failed people and many, including symptomatic people, have been flooding Punjab not just for treatment but even to get their tests done.
“A total of 97 persons, who came from Delhi, have tested positive for the last one month and are being treated by the Punjab government. To avoid any unprecedented situation, we will now strictly vigil the state borders and ensure screening of every single entrant from Delhi,” Sidhu told THE WEEK.
Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has announced that while Punjabis living in Delhi are welcome to the state and they avail the health facilities, prior reservation of hospital bed is required.
Sidhu further claimed that it was the free of cost treatment facility in Punjab that is drawing people from Delhi, where they have failed to get hospital beds or even to get their tests done. They have now started moving to their relatives or families in Punjab.
“There are many videos and social media messages highlighting the mess that Delhi is in. The government has failed. The situation is far better in Punjab as over 80 per cent of coronavirus patients in the state are asymptomatic and recovery rate of Punjab is more than 79 per cent with 99.9 per cent contact tracing of all COVID patients. We are well equipped for any emergency but cannot be callous towards infections being carried from COVID hotbed of Delhi. We will not just screen, but will also implement stringent quarantine for those traveling inside the state,” added Sidhu.
Meanwhile, Punjab registered 77 new cases on Saturday taking the tally to 3,063. Amritsar with the highest number of cases, 601, reported three deaths on Saturday, all the deceased being above 70 years of age. Three districts, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, account for 41 per cent of total positive cases and 58 per cent of deaths.
