Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to deploy central teams to Punjab and Union Territory of Chandigarh, said an official statement on Sunday (6 September).

The high level teams will assist the state and UT in strengthening public health measures for containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of COVID patients with the aim to reduce mortality and save lives. They shall also guide the state and UT in effectively addressing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow up, the statement added.

The two-member teams will comprise of a community medicine expert from PGIMER, Chandigarh and an epidemiologist from NCDC. These teams shall be stationed in the State/UT for ten days to provide extended guidance in managing COVID.

Punjab has reported a total of 60,013 cases, whereas it has 15,731Active Cases, on date. It has registered 1739 deaths. The Testing Per Million figure for the State is 37546 (India’s average figure is 34593.1 at present). With 4.97 per cent, it hovers at the lower spectrum of cumulative positivity, the statement said.

The UT of Chandigarh is reporting 2095 active cases whereas its cumulative cases stand at 5268. Testing Per Million and cumulative positivity stand at 38054 and 11.99 per cent, respectively, it added.