Punjab's Covid Testing Rate Higher Than National Average: Amarinder Singh To Centre

Amarinder Singh also said a decision on stricter restrictions will be taken after a review of the situation in the state on April 8.

Taking strong exception to the centre's criticism of the COVID-19 management in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said the state's rate of tests per million was higher than the national average and claimed the situation would have been better if the central government had not "delayed" the vaccination process. Had the central government acceded to the state's request for allowing vaccination of all 50-plus category population earlier, instead of delaying it by almost two months to include those aged above 45, the situation would have been better than present, he said. Mr Singh was reacting to the centre's charge that Punjab was not doing enough coronavirus testing and isolating infected people. In a statement on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said his government had put severe restrictions on social gatherings and closed all educational institutions, with night curfews imposed from 9 pm to 5 am in the severely affected 11 districts.