With death toll from coronavirus across Punjab continuously increasing, the second highest number of victims in a day was confirmed on Thursday.
According to official data, 51 deaths were reported during the past 24 hours. The figure crossed 50 for the second time during the month as 56 deaths were reported on December 13.
Punjab Health Department officials are concerned over the increase in the death rate and are planning to impose smart lockdown in more cities.
According to sources, the department has started survey of the areas where deaths have been reported and in the coming week it will impose smart lockdown in the worst-hit areas.
Smart lockdowns are currently imposed in selected localities of several cities of the province, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad, but the situation regarding the pandemic is critical.
At least 695 new confirmed cases of the disease were reported on Thursday.
Educational institutions are already closed across the country.
A senior official serving at Mayo Hospital’s Coronavirus Ward said the condition of patients being admitted during the second wave of the pandemic was more precarious.
“We observed an excellent recovery rate of patients in the first wave of coronavirus but the situation is different now. It is shocking that now patients with serious problems are expiring in two to three days. Patients were coming here in critical condition and we are immediately placing them on ventilator support but we are seeing a high death rate that is alarming for the medical community,” the official said, adding that the deterioration of the condition of patients who did not recover during the earlier phase was slower.
Commenting on the situation, Institute of Public Health Dean Dr Zarfishan Tahir said, “The immunity level of patients in the region is at the lowest level because of the winter season and prevailing depression. In such a situation, it is only vaccination that can improve things along with cooperation of the general public in implementing safety measures.”
The doctor called for strict implementation of the precautionary standard operating procedures (SOPs) and said people should try to remain away from crowded places. “The second most important thing that we should do is developing the habit of wearing mask and washing hands. We have to be careful till the availability of vaccine and besides this there is need that the people, especially those above 50 years of age, should take a healthy diet.”
Mayo Hospital’s Medical Officer Dr Muhmmad Usman said, “It is our analysis that in the first wave people in stable condition were coming to hospitals and with a little treatment they were recovering. That was the major reason of a low ratio of deaths. Now in the second wave we are receiving patients in worst condition and in many cases there was a low expectation of recovery. We can only make our best efforts and in this crucial time we are performing duties but it is a fact that we are worried due to increase in the death rate,” he said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Health Department spokesman Sayed Hamad Raza said, ”We have decided that in the coming days the smart lock down policy will be expanded. We had already announced that the second wave of coronavirus is alarming and only implementation of SOPs and other precautionary measures can help keep the people safe.
“This alarming situation is prevailing not only in Pakistan but also other Asian as well as western countries. At the moment our level of preparation to cope with the disease is sufficient and we also have the required infrastructure.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2020.
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