Chandigarh, Sep 2 (IANS): Even as he appealed to the people not to risk their lives by delaying Covid-19 testing, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Wednesday asked the DGP to initiate stern action against anti-social elements spreading misinformation about testing and treatment of Covid patients.

On a day when 106 people succumbed to the dreaded virus across the state, the minister said that delayed diagnosis in patients reporting for testing or treatment at the Covid facilities was the main cause of the high mortality rate.

As many as 67 per cent of all Covid deaths were due to patients reporting at the health facilities for the first time after suffering severe signs and symptoms, he said, adding that these cases then become difficult to manage, leading to fatality.

Pointing to reports received from districts about resistance by communities to sampling and testing for coronavirus, the minister said that even symptomatic persons with comorbidities have not been reporting to the healthcare facilities till the disease becomes acute.

This is the cause for maximum Covid deaths being among patients with comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart and kidney disease, he added.

Sidhu revealed that more than 50 per cent of the Covid deaths in the state have been among diabetic patients.

The minister said the delay in patients reporting at hospitals and healthcare facilities was on account of the false propaganda and fake news being spread by anti-social elements regarding testing and isolation of Covid patients and negative propaganda against health workers.