Punjab CM Amarinder Singh sets target of conducting 6000 COVID-19 tests per day by mid-May

On Saturday, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh asked state Health Department to ramp up COVID-19 testing for ensuring 6,000 tests per day by mid-May instead of original target of 5,800 tests by May-end. This assumes significance in wake of nearly 292 persons returning from Maharashtra testing positive for vel coronavirus. He was addressing a virtual Cabinet meeting with his Council of Ministers. Stressing need to be prepared for worst, Singh directed Chief Secretary to coordinate with Centre to scale up testing capacity as a huge number of Punjab residents are expected to return in coming weeks. 

Referring to many of  Nanded Gurudwara pilgrims testing positive for COVID-19, he maintained that Punjab could t rely on tests done in or states. He also urged opposition to stop playing politics over such a grave issue. Punjab CM also revealed that he had spoken to  Baba Farid University's Vice-Chancellor to explore feasibility of setting up a testing facility in Jalandhar, for which state government was ready to sanction an immediate grant of Rs.1 crore. Currently, re are 772 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in Punjab out of which 112 persons have recovered while 20 casualties have been reported.

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COVID-19 crisis

On Friday, Central government anunced extension of nationwide lockdown till May 17. new guidelines for post-May 3 lockdown period grant more relaxations for Red zones, Orange zones, and Green zones. Educational institutions, hospitality services, malls, gyms, shopping malls, religious places of worship, garings, etc. shall remain prohibited in all zones.  movement of individuals for all n-essential activities between 7 pm and 7 am will t be allowed. Moreover, persons above of 65, persons having comorbidities, pregnant women, and children below of 10 have been directed to stay at home. 

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