Punjab CM announces risk allowance for medics, paramedics

LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced a special risk allowance, equal to one salary, for doctors, nurses, medical staff and others engaged in the treatment of coronavirus patients. The CM said this while talking to the media after chairing a cabinet committee meeting for eradication of coronavirus. The chief minister said total number of coronavirus patients in Punjab is 312 - 176 in DG Khan, 77 in Lahore, three in Multan, 19 in Jhelum, two each in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad, 21 in Gujrat, eight in Gujranwala and one each in Mandibahauddin, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha and Narowal. The total number of quarantine facilities in Punjab is 163 having a total capacity of 20,000 patients, he added.

Meanwhile, work is in progress to set up more quarantine facilities along with increase in medical facilities. PSL level-3 labs will be set up in every division and 62 crore rupees have been released for 5 divisions for early completion this project, he added.

The 600 people cleared after spending 14 days in a DG Khan quarantine facility are being sent homes and the Punjab government is also arranging follow-up screening in their respective districts. Their corona tests were negative and screening of prisoners has also been started. A summary has been moved to release 3,500 prisoners involved in petty crimes besides setting up a 100-bed hospital in Camp Jail Lahore, the CM said.

The chief minister said that the Punjab government is writing a letter to CAA that arrangements be made to quickly check the Punjab bound CAA staff after foreign duties or Punjab government be provided with their lists for screening. He assured that cleanliness and other essential matters will not be affected and the administration will ensure cities’ regular cleanliness. He directed that food-chain supply should not be affected, adding that there is no shortage of anything but people should avoid unnecessary hoarding. The administration is active against hoarding and provision of personal protective equipment is in progress for safety from coronavirus. He advised people to maintain social distancing and impressed upon the philanthropists to attend to the needs of the indigent strata around them. There is no curfew but people should restrict to their homes and cooperate with the government. The Punjab government will announce social protection package on the pattern of the federal government, he added.

The chief secretary at the meeting said 150 pilgrims coming from Iran are kept in Faisalabad. The Taftan border is closed and there is no information about the arrival of more pilgrims. Ministers Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema MPA, Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries and others were also present.