Bathinda admn aims at 100% testing in all villages by June 10

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 28

Amid the fear of Covid spreading in rural areas, the district administration is targeting 100% testing in all villages of Bathinda. In a review meeting with the senior officials on Covid, Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan today directed the District Development Panchayat Officer (DDPO) to ensure 100% testing in all villages of the district by June 10.

He also directed the authorities concerned that although at present there was no problem of oxygen in the district, the use of gas in the hospitals should be monitored.

The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the residents to follow the instructions issued by the government for the prevention of the epidemic. If they have any symptoms like cough, fever, cold etc., they should get their tests done immediately. If a person tests positive for Covid, he/she should not panic. Early detection will contain the disease spread and save their loved ones.

He also reviewed the situation of domestic isolation, Covid testing, oxygen and Level-2 and Level-3 beds in the district. In Bathinda today, seven deaths and 257 new cases of Covid were reported, taking the death tally to 883 and cases to 39,863 in the district.

Notably, the testing in the rural belt was met with huge resistance by residents during the first wave and even during the initial phases of the second wave, owing to ongoing farmers’ agitation. Many believed “Covid is not a disease but merely a ploy by the Centre to sabotage the farm stir”, but now people are aware in rural areas and have started taking vaccination.