Punjab to give PPE kits to police as well, announces CM Capt. Amarinder Singh

Vibhor Mohan | TNN | Updated: Apr 14, 2020, 20:54 IST

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh (File photo)

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government plans to provide PPE kits also to its police force in the frontline of the battle against Covid-19, chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Tuesday.
The government is also procuring more kits to be given to the police personnel, after all the doctors, paramedics and sanitation workers in hospitals are equipped with such kits, he said, adding that the police force was facing major risks in the current situation.
The chief minister disclosed this on Tuesday at a video press conference, during which he said that the first priority was the protection of the health workers, for whom the state already has 16,000 PPE kits.
He admitted that the lockdown could not continue till September, which is when experts say the curve is expected to come down in India. For the moment, however, the curfew/lockdown had to be strictly enforced, he said, adding that the police had instructions not to allow any violation, including with regard to wearing of masks when outside.
Conceding that the number of Covis tests being conducted in the state was not sufficient, Amarinder said for mass testing, at least 10 lakh Rapid Testing Kits were needed, which the government had ordered from ICMR.
On the Patiala attack on a police party, leading to the amputation of an ASI’s hand, Amarinder said he had told the DGP to take strict action against the perpetrators. "What do the Nihang think? That they can get away with this?,” he quipped, adding that his first reaction to the incident was of "extreme anger". ASI Harjeet Singh was an extremely brave man, said Amarinder.
On the issue of relaxations to be given, as also announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amarinder said the committee formed by his government was already examining ways of doing so without compromising on the health of the people.
To a question on the central government support for the state, Amarinder said his government had already sought a special package, including Rs 729 for hospital upgradation, Rs 550 crore for setting up an institute for advanced virology, as well as release of the pending GST arrears of Rs 4400 crore.
On the issue of storage in Mandis, he said that the lifting of food grains had already started from Punjab as 72 Railway racks had transported wheat. Also, the state had sufficient space in rice shellers to accommodate the new crop, he added.
In response to a question about students and other stranded in Canada and other places within and outside India, he said requests had been received but till travel restrictions are lifted, nothing could be done.
Replying to a question, he said there was no proposal to cut the salaries of the government employees to generate funds to meet the COVID-19 battle expenditure.