1,225 Nanded Hazur Sahib returnees in Punjab tests positive for COVID-19

The Union Health Ministry Wednesday said the Nanded Hazur Sahib returnees in Punjab constituted the bulk of cases with 1,225 positive among the total of 4,216 while the doubling time for new cases has improved to 12.6 in the last three days in the country. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare urged Punjab government to further strengthen SARI/ILI screening, in addition to ensuring that



non-COVID health issues such as immunisation drives, TB case finding and treatment, providing blood transfusion for dialysis patients, treatment of cancer patients, ANC of pregnant women, etc, are not adversely affected.

"As the available data indicate a decline in the notification of TB cases in the private and public clinics, the state needs to give priority to this area too," said Vardhan.