Amid the ongoing COVID-19 situation, many states have been facing oxygen shortage, medical emergencies, etc which has created panic in many hospitals. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today urged Congress MPs from the state to pressurize the Centre to augment supplies of oxygen, tankers, vaccines and vital medicines to help the state government effectively fight the deadly second wave of the pandemic.
The CM held a meeting with the state Congress MPs over the covid situation.
Despite surge, the CM on Wednesday again ruled out a complete lockdown, noting that the restrictions currently in place were more stringent than the lockdown conditions in many other states. He also announced a series of relaxations and relief measures to alleviate the woes of various sections of the people amid the prolonged crisis.
The relaxations include phased opening of shops and various incentives for the housing sector, including three-month extension in permission period of construction of plots and projects for allotments, whether private or allotted, by state urban development authorities.
Amid spiralling Covid cases, the Chief Minister ordered limiting of the number of teachers in government schools to 50 per cent, with the rest taking online classes from home.
Besides, The Punjab government paid Rs 10.37 crore to the Serum Institute of India (SII) on April 26 for procurement of around 30 lakh doses of anti-COVID vaccine but no schedule for supply has so far been received, officials claimed on Wednesday.
Chairing a virtual cabinet meeting here, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed the health department to explore all options for the supply of the vaccine.
