Could consider lockdown in some areas but economic activity will not be suspended: Punjab CM tells Cabinet

CHANDIGARH: Expressing concern over the surge in Covid-19 cases and increasing number of deaths per million in the state, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said he was not averse to imposing harsher measures to check further spread of the pandemic.
Though he did not rule out lockdown, especially in areas with high spike in cases, Amarinder made it clear that economic activity will not be allowed to suffer. Earlier, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who is heading the Expert Group for revival of the state’s economy, also said any measures to check the Covid spread should not impact economic activity.
At a virtual conference (VC) meeting of the Cabinet, which reviewed the Covid situation, Amarinder, in response to a suggestion from the Expert Health Advisory Committee chairman Dr KK Talwar, said if the state government needed it, would consider going in for strong measures to combat the Coronavirus.
Montek also reiterated, while briefing the cabinet on the Group’s initial recommendations, that there was no suggestion made on withdrawal of free power to farmers, as was being projected by a section of the media. He clarified this on Amarinder’s remarks that a lot of misinformation was being spread on this count. Montek said the Group was in favour of diversification to reduce dependence on paddy, and wanted Punjab to spend 20% more per year, for the next 5 years, on developing public health infrastructure.
Warning that the state must also be ready for a second spike, Montek said if lockdowns had to be introduced in certain areas then strict protocols should be put in place to ensure that there is no impact on industrial and income generating avenues.
Amarinder said the Montek group’s recommendations would be circulated to all ministers and a detailed discussion will be held thereafter on the issue.
The four districts of Ludhiana, Mohali, Jalandhar and Patiala are witnessing the maximum surge and need stricter preventive measures to control the situation. Talwar termed the situation in the state “grim”, with 31000+ cases and more than 800 fatalities. Deaths per million had also gone up to 27.2, and as many as 265 patients were on oxygen and 20 on ventilators at present, he said, underlining the need for early testing and treatment for saving lives. The state had reached 20000 tests per day, including rapid antigen testing, he said.