Central team to help Punjab, Chandigarh in virus combat

New Delhi: With a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, the union health ministry has rushed experts to Punjab and Chandigarh to review and assist the authorities there in strengthening public health measures for containment, surveillance, testing and clinical management of Covid-19. The two-member teams will comprise a community medicine expert from PGIMER, Chandigarh and an epidemiologist from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

These teams will be deployed for 10 days to provide guidance in managing Covid-19. Punjab has so far reported a total of 60,013 cases, and 15,731 active cases on date. It has recorded 1,739 deaths. On the other hand, Chandigarh is reporting 2,095 active cases and its cumulative cases stand at 5,268. “With the aim to reduce mortality and save lives, the teams will guide the state/UT in effectively addressing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow-up,” said the health ministry in a statement.

The Centre has been supporting the states/UTs that are seeing a sudden spike in the number of Covid cases and those that are reporting high mortality by deputing multi-sectoral central teams. Many such teams have visited several states/UTs in the past months. “The teams interact with the field authorities to get a first-hand understanding of the challenges and issues being faced by them,” added the statement.


The health ministry has been engaging with states/UTs which are witnessing a surge and high mortality.

The union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a review meeting through video conference with the health secretaries of 5 states and 1 UT on the containment and management of Covid in 35 districts under their jurisdiction.