Lahore epicentre of virus outbreak

Minister says sufficient beds, ventilators available

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid has warned that Lahore and Rawalpindi are the two most coronavirus-hit cities in the province.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, she highlighted that over 12,000 confirmed coronavirus patients were present in Lahore.

“As of now, the provincial capital is the epicentre of infection, followed by Rawalpindi, in the province. Currently, there are 119 critical patients in Lahore, while in Rawalpindi the number of patients in critical condition is 113. Overall, 251 patients are in serious condition across Punjab,” she disclosed.

She said the number of confirmed patients in Punjab was 27,850 and in the last 24 hours, 1,610 people has tested positive for coronavirus. A total of 7,116 people have recovered and 540 have lost their lives, including 43 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Reacting over the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department’s study that had warned of the possibility of around 700,000 coronavirus patients in the provincial capital, she said the Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus had advised the department to conduct tests in the general population and the department had constituted a technical working group to start smart sampling in entire Punjab with special focus on Lahore.

In order to conduct the smart sampling, the Peoples Institute for Global Health, Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan, Mahboobul Haq Centre for Economic Research LUMS, Centre for International Development Harvard University, London School of Economics and universities from Georgetown and Washington jointly worked with the government of Punjab.

The minister said that though miraculously the number of infected patients has not reached that level, it is very important for the public to take precautions and follow the SOPs seriously.

“We cannot afford total lockdown due to the grim financial situation of our country. Prevention is the only solution to this disease,” she underscored.

She said a lot of rumours about the facilities and resources in the public hospitals were being spread. “There are still ample beds and ventilators available. From now onwards, if one person tests positive for coronavirus in Punjab – his family and friends will also be tested for the virus. Allah has been kinder to us as the number (of infection and mortality) is still lesser than what was expected,” she added.

She said that Punjab has conducted overall 245,544 tests with 6,371 in the last 24 hours. Lahore is the most affected district with 12,878 patients. Rawalpindi has 2,255 patients, Gujranwala 1,435, Multan 1,220 and Faisalabad has 1,662 confirmed patients.

Punjab has conducted the highest number of contact tracing with 90,871 tests. Due to contact tracing, 4,887 more patients have been identified in Punjab.

“As per directives of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the data of patients is daily reviewed at the Corona Command and Control Centre. The number of available beds in Lahore is 539 currently and only confirmed and critically ill patients are kept there,” the minister said.

Another research has confirmed that by wearing masks the transmission of the virus can be controlled by around 40%. “We are starting a mass awareness campaign in Punjab on the pandemic. Due to the carelessness of the people, we have already seen an increase in the number of cases recently,” she maintained.

Responding to queries of journalists, the minister said that doctors working in coronavirus wards work for six hours a day for a week and then they are given a leave of 15 days.

Punjab has currently 1,450 ventilators which are used for critically ill patients and no patient is refused any treatment or other facilities, Rashid said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2020.