Punjab offers help to Delhi in managing Covid

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday offered all possible help to Delhi in managing its Covid cases that has been spiralling out of control over the past week.

Singh also lauded the 'unsung heroes' of Punjab for their excellent work in handling the pandemic in the state, while assuring of full preparedness by his government to augment healthcare facilities to prepare for a possible second wave of the pandemic.

"Delhi is fighting a tough battle, and we are there to help if needed. I have said that earlier also," the Chief Minister said, while assuring all possible measures by his government to prepare for the second wave in Punjab.

While nobody knew when the second wave would strike Punjab, experience of the National Capital Region and other states and regions showed it was an almost certain eventuality, he warned, expressing the confidence that the State Health Department will once again rise to the occasion to meet any challenge.

While it was the duty of the state government to support the healthcare and other frontline workers, many of whom had got infected and some had even lost their lives to Covid, the Chief Minister said it was also the responsibility of the people to actively partner the state in the fight against the pandemic by strictly following all safety norms.

He declared "Mask Hi Vaccine Hai" as the resolve of Mission Fateh for the next few months, till a vaccine against Covid finally comes.

Digitally launching 107 health and wellness centres to boost healthcare infrastructure in the state, and provide health services to patients at their doorsteps in both rural and urban areas, the Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the Health and Medical Education Departments which had made these centres a success story in just three years.

Exhorting the people to join his government in making Punjab the number one state in healthcare, the Chief Minister said his government was focused on strengthening healthcare facilities, especially levels II and III with the aim of saving lives through early testing and treatment.

Urging the people to avoid crowded places and indoors, and not have large gatherings and social functions, he stressed the need to observe full precautions, especially washing hands and wearing masks.A

Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said the state was converting all the sub centers of the state into health and wellness Centers in a phased manner to provide quality healthcare services to the patients especially in villages.