The Punjab Government has notified Corona Virus Disease 2019 as "Epidemic Disease". Disclosing this here today, the Health & Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that as per notification, all Hospitals (Government & private) should have Flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) under the “Punjab Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020” and shall record the history of travel of the person if he/she has travelled to any country or area where COVID-19 has been reported. In addition the history of coming in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 shall be recorded. In case the person has any such history in last 14 days and the person is asymptomatic then the person must be kept in home quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure. Similarly, in case the person has any such history in last 14 days and the person is symptomatic as per case definition of COVID-19, person must be isolated in a hospital as per protocol and will be tested for COVID-19 as per protocol.The Health Minister further said that information of all such cases should be given to office of Civil Surgeon of the district immediately and no person/institution/organization will use any print or electronic media for information regarding COVID-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health & Family welfare. This is to avoid spread of any rumour or unauthenticated information regarding COVID-19. In Case any person/institution/organization is found indulging in such activity, it will be treated as a punishable offence under these regulations.Mr. Balbir Singh divulged that no Private Laboratory has been authorized to take or test samples for COVID-19 in the State of Punjab. All such samples will be collected as per guidelines of Govt. of India and these will be sent to designated laboratory by the District Nodal Officer of the Health Department of the concerned district.The Cabinet Minister added that any person with a history of travel in last l4 days to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported, must report to nearest Government hospital or call at toll tree helpline number 104 so that necessary measures if required may be initiated by the Health Department.