Covid-19 claims 30 more lives in Punjab
A paramedic uses a swab to take a nasal sample as he conducts a novel coronavirus test at a roadside testing facility in Is-lamabad. PHOTO: NNI
The second wave of Covid-19 claimed 30 more lives in Punjab on Wednesday and 778 new cases were reported.
A spokesperson for the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (PP&SH) said the number of coronavirus cases in the province reached 120,356 while a total number of deaths has been recorded 3,066.
The PP&SHD confirmed that 447 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Lahore, one in Sheikhupura, two in Kasur, three in Nankana Sahib, 97 in Rawalpindi, one in Attock, three in Jehlum, 14 in Gujranwala, three in Mandi Bahauddin, nine in Sialkot, one in Narowal, 10 in Gujrat, 48 in Faisalabad, two in Toba Tek Singh,19 in Jhang,36 in Multan, three in Lodharan, four in Vehari, one in Khanewal, one in Dera Ghazi Khan, five in Chiniot, 16 in Sargodha, two in Mianwali, five in Khoshab, two in Jhang,18 in Bahawalpur, one in Bhakkar, one in Layyah, eight in Rahim Yar Khan,17 in Sahiwal, six in Okara and 11 new cases were reported in Pakpattan district during the last 24 hours.
The Punjab health department has conducted 2,010,906 tests for Covid-19 so far while 98,825 confirmed cases had been recovered.
The Punjab health department urged the masses to follow SOPs for their protection and cover their faces with masks besides washing their hands with soap several times in a day to protect themselves from Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on eating inside hotels, cafes and restaurants. Primary and Secondary Healthcare secretary issued the notification.
As per the notification, restaurants, hotels and all kinds of food points can arrange food and drink only in open spaces.
Dine-in seating will be arranged according to SOPs while maintaining social distance.
Tables and chairs for seating will be placed at a distance as per the SOPs.
The SOPs issued to prevent coronavirus in open spaces will also have to be followed.
The SOPs such as wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, not touching any surface unnecessarily and maintaining social distance will be strictly enforced.
All the SOPs issued to prevent coronavirus must be implemented.
Remember that all business closing hours are pre-determined at 10:00 pm.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2020.