Number of new COVID-19 cases rises to 41

Punjab government decides to set up four new laboratories for coronavirus tests

LAHORE: Punjab’s tally of COVID-19 cases has risen to at least 41 new cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours.

On the other hand, the Punjab government had decided to set up four new laboratories for coronavirus tests. Reportedly, a summary of the new labs was forward to the chief minister by Primary and Secondary Health Secretary Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman.

Under the plan, the labs will be constructed in DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi at a cost of Rs80 million each. The purpose of constructing the labs is to provide facilities to the patients free of charge.



After the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, for the first time, such a large number of positive cases were recorded in the province in a day. The Punjab Health Department said 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus were in Lahore, 106 in DG Khan, four in Rawalpindi, one in Multan, two in Jhelum and four in Gujarat.

Moreover, the situation in the local public hospitals is still critical as they lack proper arrangements.

“The actual situation regarding coronavirus is alarming but officials concerned are just holding meetings, while they need to take action,” said an official of Punjab Health Department. “There is lack of infrastructure and facilities and the health ministry is not able to control this pandemic,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2020.