Covid 19: Rapid testing kits reach Ludhiana: DC 

•    15 POSITIVE CASES RELATED TO DISTRICT LUDHIANA, THREE DEATHS REPORTED TILL DATE
•    DECISION TO WHETHER PROVIDE ANY RELAXATION IN CURFEW/LOCKDOWN TO BE TAKEN AFTER ASSESSING CURRENT SITUATION IN A MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 20
•    SAYS, PROCUREMENT GOING ON SMOOTHLY IN DISTRICT LUDHIANA
•    TESTS OF 26 PERSONS WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH ACP CONDUCTED, THREE FOUND POSITIVE: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

Ludhiana: District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal have informed that as a sample, 50 “Rapid Testing Kits” have reached Ludhiana, and the District Administration would start testing through these kits shortly. Mr Agrawal informed that the test is simply done with a single prick to take a blood sample and the result is available in 15 minutes. He said that the state government has ordered Rapid Testing Kits from the ICMR.
    He informed that four new positive cases have been reported in the district in last 24 hours time. He informed that 933 samples have been taken till date, out of which reports of 814 have been received, out of which a total of 18 samples (including 15 cases from district Ludhiana) were positive. He informed that report of 774 samples was negative, while 22 samples were rejected. He informed that unfortunately, four persons have lost their lives due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) in the district till date, out of which three persons were from district Ludhiana, while one from another district.
    Mr Agrawal informed that the sample of a Revenue Department official was found positive, who was admitted to Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, who passed away due to cardiac arrest today. He informed that samples of four persons from district Ludhiana were taken at Chandigarh, and thankfully all these samples were negative. He informed that the District Administration is looking for all persons who came in direct contact with all the positive patients.
    The Deputy Commissioner informed that the high level committee of union government has announced that if the situation remains under control in any particular district by April 20, 2020, then some relaxations would be given to those particular districts. He said that with regard to Ludhiana, a meeting to analyse whether relaxations are to be given or not, would be held by the District Administration Ludhiana on April 20, 2020 and the decision regarding it would be taken in that meeting, after throughly examining the current situation. He urged the residents to not fall prey to any rumours on social media and warned of strict action if any person spreads any rumours.
    Mr Agrawal informed that the procurement of wheat crop is going on smoothly in the district and appealed to the farmers to bring their produce in the mandis only as per their turn. He informed that bardana and other necessary material has already been provided to the arhtiyas (commission agents) in the mandis. He assured that lifting work is also going on smoothly and every single food grain would be procured by the government, so the farmers should not panic.

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE:
    Commissioner of Police Mr Rakesh Kumar Agrawal informed that tests of 26 persons who came in direct contact with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, who tested positive for COVID 19, have been conducted, out of which 22 persons are from Punjab Police. He informed that results of all these tests have been received, out of which three cases were positive. He informed that these three persons include the ACP’s wife, driver and an SHO and all of them are undergoing treatment in hospital.