Dr Yasmin Rashid, the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Primary & Secondary Healthcare on Sunday said that lockdown in Punjab will be inevitable if the cases continue to rise with the current trajectory.
The COVID-19 situation in the province is grim as 67 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, she said. Overall 7,964 people have lost their lives in Punjab since the start of the pandemic. Around 28,207 tests were conducted in Punjab on Saturday, which is highest in the country.
“The minister said that the infection rate in province has increased which is a worrying sign.” The positivity rate in Lahore has reached 19%: Faislabad: 27%: Multan: 16%; Sargodha: 16%; Rahim Yar Khan 18%.
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.
“So far, we have administered 900,000 vaccines,” she revealed. Rashid pointed out that 34,000 people were vaccinated in Punjab in the last 24 hours. “Our aim is to vaccinate between 34,000 and 35,000 people every day. 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.
Punjab govt extends COVID-19 restrictions till May 17
The Punjab government has notified extension in restrictions till May 17 to contain the spread of Covid-19, as the third wave, fuelled by the UK variant, continued to spiral out of control in the province.
As per the notification issued by the Primary and Secondary Health Care Department on Saturday, the restrictions have been tightened in 19 districts of the province including Lahore and Rawalpindi amid the upsurge in coronavirus cases.
All kinds of gatherings (indoor and outdoor) will remain banned, including social, cultural, political, sports and miscellaneous events.
“There shall be a complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining and only takeaway/home delivery shall be allowed,” read the communiqué.
The notification states that the business activities will be allowed till 6pm on weekdays and will remain completely shut two days a week.
The cinemas, theatres and amusement parks will remain completely closed in the province. Whereas, shrines will remain shut in the districts with above 8% positivity ratio.
