With the threat of a possible third Covid-19 wave looming large over the state in the wake of new variant Omicron, Punjab Government on Tuesday ordered 40,000 daily Covid testing in the State.

Issuing the instructions, the Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Health and Family Welfare Minister Om Prakash Soni ordered 40,000 daily Covid testing in the State following the reports of a spurt of a new Covid-19 variant in some parts of the world and a possible third wave of Coronavirus in Punjab.

Soni held a high-level review meeting with senior health officials including the Principal Secretary (Medical Education and Research) Vikas Garg, National Health Mission-Punjab managing director Kumar Rahul, Punjab Health System Corporation’s managing director Bhupinder Singh.

Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Andesh Kang, Director Health Services OP Gojra, along with Civil Surgeons and senior medical officers across the State to sensitise the people of Punjab to make them aware of the imminent danger of new form of Covid-19 Omicron.

He directed the officers of the Department to start preparations at the war-footing level at once to tackle any possible emergency.

 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the RT-PCR tests are capable of identifying new viruses, therefore, maximum Covid tests should be conducted across the state, he added.

Soni also issued directions to set up separate wards for the admission of suspected patients suffering from the new variant. He also directed the officials of the Health Department to make concrete arrangements regarding the arrival of travellers to Punjab from South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.

HARYANA DIRECTS SENIOR OFFICERS TO INTENSIFY SURVEILLANCE

Keeping in view the concerns over the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Haryana Government on Tuesday directed Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Police, Inspectors General of Police and Superintendents of Police to ensure strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols.

“The senior officers have been directed to keep a check on implementation of COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of masks, social distancing, hand hygiene etc. among the people in their respective districts and jurisdictions. Apart from this, where there is a possibility of congestion, like schools, industries, business premises, railway stations, bus stands, etc., agencies like police, health, municipal and civic committees will enforce the protocol by challaning the violators,” said Health Minister Anil Vij after presiding over a review meeting of Health Department here.

During the meeting, the officers apprised the Minister that genome sequence is needed to test the new variants identified by South Africa, for which a machine has been installed in Haryana. Vij said that if a new patient of COVID-19 is found in Haryana, then genome sequence of the patient should be conducted so that other people can be saved from getting infected.

During the meeting, the Health Minister was apprised that about 12,000 COVID-19 tests are being done per day in the state and now it is being increased and a target of 40,000 tests per day has been set for the coming days.