District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Patiala Kumar Amit briefed the residents of the district on the Facebook page of District Public Relations Office, Patiala this evening. Responding to a query from the viewers, Mr. Kumar Amit said that although the cases of COVID-19 were on the rise in the district but still our patients were not showing serious symptoms or on ventilator, thus the situation was under control. Seeking the cooperation of the people much needed to contain the pandemic in the district, he said that without the precautions, we could not do much.The Deputy Commissioner said that 15000 tests have been done for a population of per million in the district and so far more than 30,000 tests have been done while the quarantine rate of 1200 to 1300 people for one positive case of Patiala district is highest in the state. On being asked about the arrangements for coping the number of cases of COVID in the district, the Deputy Commissioner said that more than 3000 beds have been arranged in the hospitals of the district. Out of which only 385 have been used at present. He said that in wake of increasing cases the administration has created containment zones in many areas including Patiala city and Samana.The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the people to cooperate with the front line Corona warriors and said that all of them were working in the field to help the people by putting their lives at risk.
Responding a query related to not wearing masks, Mr Amit said, "Of course our society is very much aware but the administration will not allow anyone to endanger the lives of others and will take strict action." He said that SSP Mr. Mandeep Singh Sidhu and Civil Surgeon Dr. Harish Malhotra, Ward wise committees, Sector Magistrates, Patwaris, Flying Squads and RRT along with teams from Police and Health Department were working hard to save the people from the pandemic. ASHA workers and other members of health teams are working round the clock in the field.Disposing the query on the influx of people from outside Punjab, Kumar Amit said that as per the instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, registration should be done through e-link https://cova.punjab.gov.in/registration or Cova app. However, those who return to their destination by visiting Punjab within 72 hours, do not need to be isolated. He said that so far 660 persons from foreign countries have come in the district and out of them only 7 have been tested positive and a very few out of around 7000 persons who came from other states to here, were tested positive. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the people to support the district administration for the success of the Mission Fateh launched by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to stop the spread of Coronavirus and dial 104 for medical help in case of COVID symptoms such as cough, cold etc. Apart from this, if required, the District Administration Control Room can be contacted on 0175-2350550, Civil Surgeon on 0175-5127793-5128793 and Police on 98764-32100.