Dr Yasmin Rashid, the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Primary & Secondary Healthcare while addressing the media said there is a complete ban on all gatherings and processions in the province and people should cooperate with the government otherwise situation will get worse.
The minister further said that the infection rate and number of cases will only go down if COVID-19 SOPs are strictly implemented. “This has happened in Lahore and we have seen a positive change.”
Currently, 30 localities in Lahore are under smart lock down to stem the spread of COVID-19.
In Lahore, the infection rate has gone down as compared to last week. In the last 24 hours, 23 people lost their lives to the deadly virus. “Presently, there are 1,149 people in hospitals across the city,” the minister said.
There are 50 ventilators available in Lahore while 42 per cent high-dependency oxygen beds are occupied.
“We have set up a 280-bed field hospital in the Lahore Expo Centre with uninterrupted oxygen supply,” Dr Rashid said. Furthermore, 10 ventilators have been installed there as well.
The minister said that the situation in Gujranwala was alarming as all the ventilators were occupied there. “But we have talked to Rescue 1122 and are sending them five more ventilators from Lahore.”
Vaccination in Punjab
Speaking about the vaccination drive in the province Rashid said that presently, the highest number of people are getting vaccinated in Punjab.
“In the last week we have on average administred vaccines to 55,000 people per day,” she revealed. Rashid pointed out that 78,000 people were vaccinated in Punjab in the last 24 hours. The highest number of people are getting vaccinated in Punjab.”
Rashid said that Punjab is the only province where people are being provided with a home vaccination service. “Over 1,600 people have been vaccinated through the service so far which is only valid for people of or above 60 years.”
The portal for the vaccination of frontline workers in Punjab has been opened and workers are being vaccinated on priority.
You can call 1033 to avail the service. The Punjab government is planning to introduce special bus routes for people who can’t commute to vaccination centres as well.
“The federal government will be giving us one million vaccines by the end of April,” the minister said. “But it’s important to understand that it will take some time to administer these vaccines.”
We are hoping to vaccinate all elderly people, specially those above 50, by the end of May, she added.
Rashid assured that the oxygen and ventilator condition in the province was under control.
More to follow
