Amarinder rules out complete lockdown for now in Punjab

Chandigarh, Apr 30 (UNI) Ruling out a complete lockdown for now, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the six worst-affected districts to further tighten the micro-containment strategy and ensure 100 per cent testing.
“Lockdown is not a solution, as it will lead to exodus of the labourers and force them to go to states with even lesser medical facilities,” said Capt Amarinder, directing the district administrations to enforce all restrictions strictly and to stop dine-in facility in all high positivity areas, with Covid testing of staff in restaurants by the Health Department.
Urging the industry to set up their own Covid treatment centres and makeshift hospitals to treat their own labourers suffering from mild/moderate infection, he stressed on teamwork to fight the Covid battle.
He also directed the Chief Secretary to look into encouraging retired doctors and nurses, along with final year MBBS students, to rejoin for handling L2/L3 facilities, and suggested setting up of temporary healthcare facilities in halls/gymnasiums etc.
The Chief Minister was chairing a virtual emergency meeting to review the Covid situation in the six worst hit districts of Ludhiana, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Jalandhar, Bathinda, Patiala and Amritsar.