Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 19

Warning of a worsening Covid crisis in the country, Chief Minister Capt Amainder Singh on Thursday urged the Centre to allow private hospitals and labs to conduct tests in order to ensure access to all people even as the state reported its first case of death due to coronavirus.

Calling for a national-level fight against the pandemic on a war footing, Capt Amarinder said he would take up the issue of testing by private hospitals/labs with the Prime Minister on Friday during the latter’s proposed video conference with all Chief Ministers.

With the number of coronavirus cases increasing, the Centre has to consider reviewing its policy, stressed the Chief Minister, making it clear that he did not agree with the current policy in this regard.

Given the fact that Punjab had private labs in all major cities, it was not logical for a Covid suspect to have to travel to Chandigarh or some other place to get himself tested from a government facility only, he said, adding that only in case of doubt should such a person be required to go elsewhere for a second test.