LAHORE: The Punjab government, in the first phase, has decided to procure 1,000 injections approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Punjab (DRAP) for Corona patients.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Punjab Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 chaired by Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan. The meeting discussed the current situation of Covid-19 patients in the province in detail and recommended that children would not be allowed to visit parks. Similarly, strict implementation of SOPs at public places would be ensured while violators will be severely punished.

Presiding over the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said there was no substitute for human life, adding that the government was spending all its resources to provide the best medical facilities to the patients of Covid-19 and provision of injections approved by DRAP is also part of it. He said every citizen has now realized the severity of Covid-19 virus and in the same way every individual should fulfill his responsibility as well.

He appealed to the general public to support the government in its ongoing efforts against Covid-19 by adhering to security measures as much as possible.

Senior minister hinted at tightening the lockdown again if more leniency measures are taken. He added the principle of declaring 'hotspot' areas is still being followed in the vicinity where more cases of corona are being reported. Aleem Khan clarified that daily activities in the market should remain to continue five days a week and ensure implementation of the lockdown decision on Saturdays and Sundays. Similarly, medical stores can be kept open 24 hours a day and general stores can work from 9am to 7pm daily.

Briefing the Cabinet Committee meeting, the Punjab Chief Secretary said a crackdown on SOPs violators has been going on for the last two days in major cities of the province with the help of traffic police and the positive effects of this campaign have been surfaced. The Secretary Health Punjab and other officials highlighted the statistics of Corona patients in the province. IG Punjab, commissioner Lahore and other officers also briefed about their respective departments.