Covid wave ebbs in Punjab
A man receives a dose of the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on July 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)
The fourth wave of coronavirus in Punjab is declining rapidly, with the lowest number of deaths as well as new cases of the disease in recent months recorded in October.
Official data shows that 299 deaths caused by Covid-19 were confirmed in Punjab during October as compared to 704 in the previous month. The number of new patients registered across the province in a month declined from 37,962 to 9,056.
There currently are 7,293 active cases of the disease in hospitals of Punjab as compared to 17,736 at the end of September.
During the past 24 hours, at least 120 new patients of Covid-19 were confirmed in Punjab, while two deaths caused by it were reported, including one in Lahore. The figures for October show that the peak of the pandemic has ended and the situation is heading towards normality.
Read Low mortality lessens Covid pressure
In view of the improving situation, the federal government and National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and have relaxed the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Most of daily activities have returned to the normal level in districts of Punjab.
A couple of days ago, the NCOC announced relaxation of the remaining restrictions. It announced the lifting of all restrictions in the districts where vaccination of 60 per cent of the people has been completed.
The districts where the percentage of vaccination is below 60% will remain under the precautionary restrictions till November 15.
However, despite the improving situation the threat to public health due to Covid-19 persists. Health department officials are watching with concern the detection of a new variant of the virus in China.
"It was a good month for health department regarding coronavirus as the lowest level of the fourth wave was witnessed and it appears that the situation would soon improve further.
However, news of a new Covid wave in China is a matter of concern as patients suffered from a new variant of the virus have been reported in the neighbouring country,” a senior official of the department said while speaking to The Express Tribune.
Chinese government has announced new restrictions, including those on public gatherings, he said.
“Similarly, the situation is still crucial in India, where 549 deaths caused by Covid-19 were reported in last 24 hours. We should not relax yet and should remain prepared in view of the situation in the neighbouring countries,” the official added.
He said the department’s focus is on vaccination and inoculation of people above 12 years of age in under way across the province.
“The second thing is implementation of SOPs and it is a worrisome fact that the people are one again ignoring the safety guidelines although the threat of Covid-19 has not ended.
The people must follow the standard operating procedures.”
A spokesman for the primary and secondary healthcare department said the ratio of coronavirus positive cases had decreased in almost all big cities.
The overall ratio in Punjab is 0.7%. He said the ratio in Lahore was 2% and 84 new coronavirus cases had been registered in the city during the past day.
The spokesman stressed that the citizens of Lahore should follow the SOPs and avoid going to public gatherings.
The pandemic has claimed 12,915 lives and infected 440,269 people in Punjab since its outbreak. Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said a vaccination campaign titled ‘Reach every door’ had been launched in the province on October 15 and would continue till November 15.
“We need public cooperation and in this regard we advise the people to ensure social distancing and not go to crowded places. We will keep following our policy of vaccination and implementation of SOPs announced to curb the virus,” the provincial secretary added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2021.