Punjab witnessed the third highest death toll in a single day on March 29 since the first coronavirus case emerged. As many as 73 persons succumbed to the virus during the last 24 hours in the province, which is also the highest number of deaths in a day since January 1.
The death toll also represents over two-third deaths in the entire country in a day.
The number of active virus cases stood at a whopping 24,390 which is approximately half of the total active cases in Pakistan.
The current coronavirus wave has also hit the province hardest over the course of 272 days in March.
A total of 969 deaths were confirmed in Punjab between March 1 and 30, citing an average of 30 deaths per day.
Since June 2020, March also saw a spike in the number of patients with a total of 46,432 contracting the virus during a 30-day period.
The provincial capital borne the strongest brunt of the third wave as the city of Lahore buried 33 persons who succumbed to the virus in a day.
Despite disturbing figures, the Punjab Health Department claims the situation would get better in the next two weeks as the government tightens lockdown in Covid-19 hotspots.
Nevertheless the department realizes the gravity of the situation, confirming March as the deadliest month since June last year when 1,222 people had lost their lives to the pandemic.
It is pertinent to mention here that June is considered the worst month that saw the greatest number of deaths in Punjab owing to coronavirus.
A government-owned Covid-19 monitoring website states that in June 2020, 20,372 recoveries were reported from all 36 districts of Punjab.
A source within the provincial health department also revealed that during the same month 50,022 new cases were reported in the province which was one-third of Punjab’s total cases.
Also read Sindh sees two more Covid deaths, 275 new infections
By far, the highest virus death toll was recorded on June 24 at 86 followed by 82 on June 19 and 68 on June 16.
The data demonstrates that March 29 noted the third highest deaths in a day, 73, since the outbreak hit Punjab.
Health officials have showed concern with at least 443 deaths reported in the provincial capital alone in March, the situation in Lahore calls for drastic measures to contain the virus spread.
“Punjab Health Department is continuously asking the public to not take the third wave easy as the province sees the second highest surge in cases ever,” Syed Hammad Raza, the spokesman of the Punjab Health Department, said.
“To reduce the risk of infection, we urge the masses to implement SOPs and avoid unnecessary interactions.”
“Punjab government has taken steps including closure of parks, marriage halls, markets and other businesses to reduce infection risk and rate,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Asad Aslam, the member of Coronavirus Expert Advisory Committee, said, “Smart lockdown and related policies will assist in the reduction of infection rate within the next 10 days.”
He underscored that the crisis emerged as a result of our laxity in implementing SOPs in public spaces.
“Citizens have to understand that time limits and smart lockdowns are put in place for their own safety and their disregard to it would not only jeopardise their health but also affect those near and dear to them,” he stressed.
He warned that the latest wave is quite aggressive and precautions are the only means of staying safe.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2021.
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