COVID: Amarinder in opposition to lockdown, says scenario anticipated to worsen in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh right here on Monday mentioned he’s in opposition to the imposition of a coronavirus lockdown whilst he predicted that the pandemic scenario is predicted to worsen within the state.
The CM made the remark at a gathering, a day after the each day an infection rely within the state crossed the 7,000-mark, the best single-day rise for the reason that outbreak of the pandemic final 12 months.
The CM mentioned the scenario is predicted to worsen, particularly in south Punjab. He mentioned Ludhiana district alone reported 1,300-plus instances on Sunday.
According to an announcement, the CM mentioned whereas stringent measures are being taken to deal with the surge in instances, he isn’t “proposing” a lockdown within the state because it results in financial woes and the exodus of migrant staff.
The chief minister mentioned at one other assembly that the state authorities is making all efforts to safe medical oxygen to complement its depleting shares.
Of the 105 tonnes of medical oxygen quota, the state is getting solely 85 tonnes as the remaining is being diverted to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, he mentioned.
The CM additionally directed the Health Department to observe up with the Centre for vaccine provides because the state presently has only one.76 lakh Covishield and 22,000 Covaxin doses left.
Reacting to stories of threats of a strike by well being staff, the CM mentioned such actions will likely be met with dismissal “as we cannot tolerate this kind of nonsense in a war-like situation”.
Meanwhile, the Army Western Command guarantee to revive the state’s defunct oxygen vegetation.
Lt Gen RP Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, at a digital assembly with the CM supplied to supply workers to run a 100-bed COVID facility proposed to be arrange on the constructing loaned to the state authorities by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for the aim.
Fifteen educated nurses have already been despatched to Patiala to assist the civic workers, he mentioned.
Army officers mentioned although their assets had been burdened on account of necessities from different states, they are going to lengthen all attainable assist to Punjab to deal with the scenario.
The CM later mentioned the federal government can even strategy the Union Home Ministry to supply manpower and ICU beds by the Border Security Force (BSF).
Health Secretary Hussan Lal advised the CM at a gathering that 2,000 beds will likely be added at authorities and personal hospitals.
While 900 beds will likely be added at authorities medical faculties in Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot, 542 will likely be added at personal faculties, he mentioned.