Punjab Cabinet to undergo Covid tests after minister turns positive

Chandigarh, July 15 (IANS) After a Punjab Cabinet Minister was diagnosed with coronavirus and hospitalised, the entire cabinet led by Amarinder Singh is likely to undergo Covid tests as a precaution, officials said on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister is keen that the entire Cabinet undergoes the coronavirus test as a precautionary measure, an official in the Chief Minister Office told IANS.

“Though most of the meetings for quite some time are held virtually, there is a risk of contracting virus through the staff. So the Chief Minister asks all the ministers to undergo a test,” he said, adding “even the Chief Minister himself will undergo the test”.

Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. He is the first Council Minister to test positive.

Bajwa, who has mild symptoms of the virus, has been undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Mohali near here.

Last week, Rural Development Director Vipul Ujjwal was tested positive. After that Bajwa’s sample was taken.

A total of 340 cases and nine more deaths due to Covid were reported in the state on Tuesday.

With these deaths, the number of casualties in the state rose 213.

–IANS

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