LAHORE: The number of fresh coronavirus-positive cases as well as deaths has started witnessing declining trend in Punjab, as 576 fresh cases and eight deaths were reported across the province in the last 24 hours.
With above fresh cases, the total number of positive cases has reached to 74,778 while the number of total deaths has reached to 1,681 across the province till the filing of this report. Out of 576 confirmed positive cases, 496 are stable while 11 are in critical condition.
During the last 24 hours, 8,389 corona tests were conducted across the province taking the tally of tests so far conducted to 485,496. With recovery of 900 patients. The total number of recovered patients in Punjab has reached to 26,062.
Health professionals said decline in corona cases is due to smart lockdown in hot spot areas as well as implementation of SOPs, which is a must to check spread of virus.
As per data made available to Business Recorder, as many as 3604 contacts of corona patients were traced out of whom 3017 were tested and only 10 were found positive of the novel coronavirus.
The City of Lahore, whose some parts are under smart lockdown is still worst hit with 38,746 corona positive cases and 662 deaths so far. After Lahore, Rawalpindi is the second most affected district in the province with 5,766 positive cases and 292 deaths so far.
Corona Expert Advisory Group (CEAG) Head Prof Dr Shaukat Mahmood told media here Monday that the on-going lockdown had helped in curtailing the spread of the virus hit areas, otherwise, the situation could have been serious. He urged the people to strictly observe SOPs to check the spread of virus.
To a query, he said there is no scientific evidence about efficacy of "Sana Makki' as far as treatment of corona is concerned. He added that vitamins being sold in open markets have also no role in treatment of Covid-19. He said there is no role of antibiotics regarding treatment of coronavirus.
When asked about strategy about smarty lockdown, he said the implementation of this policy rests with administration.
On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said the provincial government has been focusing on improvement of the healthcare sector and such a healthcare system is being introduced which will benefit deserving people.
He said that those sitting before a laptop for doing photo session had ruined the health department in their respective tenures. "No attention was paid on the hospitals conditions, rural or basic health units and those in power in the past remained busy in earning cheap publicity, displaying show off whereas the masses remained deprived of getting quality treatment," he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020