Chandigarh: So as to ensure that the COVID-19 situation in Punjab remains under control, Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan directed the departments concerned to step up RT-PCR testing and to conduct at least 10,000 RT-PCR tests related to schools daily. Also, the department concerned to ensure that only fully vaccinated teaching and non-teaching staff was allowed to attend the schools. Besides, Chief Secretary directed that target of 40,000 samples per day must be achieved and testing shall be further increased if the Covid cases rise.

Holding a meeting to review the Covid state of affairs in Punjab with the senior officials of the Health, Medical Education, School Education departments and all Deputy Commissioners, Ms. Mahajan expressed concern over the movement of people to Punjab from neighboring states, where the virus cases were once again on the rise. She also asked the officials concerned to keep a close watch on the positivity rate ahead of the festival season when extra vigil was required to prevent the surge of the deadly virus.

Mahajan expressed satisfaction over the fact that 2,45,823 samples have been taken in the past week from August 3 to 9, and only 352 had tested positive, which accounted for a positivity rate of 0.1 percent.

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