To keep a close tab on the emerging threats of COVID 19 Virus in the state, the meeting of the Group (GoM) of Seven Ministers today held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Brahm Mohindra, Local Bodies Minister Punjab. The GoM decided to launch state wide awareness drive at mass level to educate the people to adopt the strict preventive measures to check the spread of the Virus in the state. Deputy Commissioners have also been instructed not to grant permission for mass gatherings likewise Religious Leaders and Dera Heads have also requested to postpone the schedule of their religious congregations.Disclosing this, Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has constituted this high level group under his Chairmanship, which comprises Mr. Om Parkash Soni, Mr. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Mrs. Razia Sultana, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Mr. Vijay Inder Singla and Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The mandate of this GoM is to take stock of the situation on day to day basis and to ensure the availability of requisite Medicines, availability of Medical and Para Medical Staff and setting up of adequate quarantine wards across the state to isolate the suspected COVID 19 cases. He disclosed that the state administrative machinery took immediate action to check the spread of the disease and at present 2200 quarantine beds are ready throughout the state, besides 250 ventilators in private sector hospitals, whereas 20 ventilators are ready each in Government Medical College in Amritsar and Patiala.
Divulging further, Local Bodies Minister said that the consistent awareness campaign would be launched in close co-ordination with all the government departments, Indian Medical Association (IMA), social and religious organizations and NGOs to educate the masses to refrain from shaking hands, mass gatherings, religious congregations and to follow the disinfectant practices to keep themselves away from reach of COVID 19. He said that Anganwari Workers, DDPOs/BDPOs, Panchayat Secretaries would establish personal contact with all the households in the rural areas to sensitize the ruralities, likewise DEOs would ensure that the school students gathered in morning assemblies must maintain one meter distance between each other. The Minister said that the Group of Ministers would review the action taken report to review the compliance and progress of directions issued by the GoM on Monday.In the meeting Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Chief Secretary, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare, Mr. V.K. Janjua, Principal Secretary Labour, Mr. D.K Tiwari, Principal Secretary Medical Education and Research, Mr. Kumar Rahul, Secretary Health, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, MD PHSC, Mrs. Anindita Mitra, Director Information & Public Relation Department and Dr. Avneet Kaur Director Health & Family Welfare were also present in the meeting.