Health dept issues special SOPs for various sectors

1,588 new infections were reported from across province

LAHORE:

The Punjab Health Department has issued special SOPs for various sectors due to the increase in coronavirus cases.

A statement issued by the health department said a new record number of vaccinations were being carried across Punjab out daily. There are currently a total of 662 vaccination centres in operation.

The vaccination campaign is successfully underway at all vaccination centres in the province.

During the last 24 hours, 1,588 cases were reported from across the province. So far, the total number of cases has reached 396,327. Besides, 360,053 patients have fully recovered in the whole province, bringing the total number of active cases to 24,317.

In recent 24 hours, 13 deaths are recorded in Lahore whereas 44 deaths have been reported in Punjab, while the total number of deaths has reached 11,957. During the last 24 hours, 23,394 tests are conducted making a total of 6,841,761 tests.

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During the last 24 hours, 712 cases were reported in Lahore, 101 in Rawalpindi, 110 in Faisalabad, 68 in Multan, 68 in Muzaffargarh, 49 in Rahim Yar Khan, 47 in Bahawalpur, 43 in Gujranwala, 33 in Dera Ghazi Khan 31 in Okara, 30 in Jhang. Similarly, 27 in Toba Tek Singh, 26 in Sialkot, 21 in Sargodha, 19 in Khanewal, 15 in Mianwali, respectively 14 cases are reported each in Gujrat, Lodhran, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar and Sahiwal, 13 in Bhakar, 13 in Pakpattan, 12 in Sheikhupura, 10 in Nankana and Kasur. As many as nine each in Jhelum, Narwal and Mandi Bahauddin, eight in Chiniot, eight in Vehari, seven in Attock and six cases in Layyah have been reported.

On Wednesday, the average positivity ratio of coronavirus was recorded at 6.8 in all the cities across the province, while the provincial capital Lahore recorded a positive rate of 8.6, Rawalpindi 10.5, Faisalabad 12, Multan 11.1 and Muzaffargarh 5.8 is recorded.

While talking about the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said, "frequently increase corona case in Punjab is a matter of concern. In such epidemic conditions, vaccination is the only and effective treatment against corona."

He further added: "It is pleasant that a large number of citizens are increasingly participating in the vaccination campaign - there is no shortage of vaccinations anywhere in the province. There is ample stock of vaccines at all centres while in the future more vaccines have been ordered to meet the needs.

"Citizens are urged to immediately vaccinate all people over the age of 17 and ensure implementation of SOPs so that we can return to normal life."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2021.