Coronavirus death toll soars past 5,000 in Punjab

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 32 more lives in Punjab, infecting at least 492 more people across the province during the last 24 hours.

According to Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD) officials on Saturday, the number of infections in the province exceeded 163,360 after detection of new cases. According to a spokesperson for P&SHD, so far the total number of deaths in the province had been recorded at 5,026 altogether.

The spokesperson added that 293 new cases were reported in Lahore, six in Gujranwala, 11 in Rawalpindi, 31 in Gujrat, 28 in Faisalabad, two in Bahawalpur, 12 in Rahim Yar Khan, while three new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Okara district during the last 24 hours.

Moreover, two cases were reported in Kasur, five in Sheikhupura, two in Nankana Sahib, 11 in Rawalpindi, three in Jhelum, 10 in Mandi Bahauddin, three in Sialkot, four in Narowal, five in Toba Tek Singh, nine in Chiniot, two in Jhang, 15 in Sargodha, one in Mianwali, one in Bhakkar, 16 in Multan, four in Khanewal, two in Vehari, five in Lodhran, five in Dera Ghazi Khan and seven in Pakpattan district during the last 24 hours

The health department had conducted 3,089,736 coronavirus tests so far, while at least 150,984 patients had recovered in the province.

The department’s officials urged the citizens to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their protection and cover their faces with masks while going outside of their homes.

People should wash their hands with soap several times daily to protect themselves from the dangerous virus, they added. Citizens should contact 1033 immediately if any symptoms of coronavirus are found in any person.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2021.