I WROTE a letter in these columns about Covid-19 situation in Gujrat (April 4) to point out that Gujrat was the second most affected district in Punjab after Lahore and it may become the epicentre of Covid-19 in Punjab.

Gujrat health officials started collecting random sampling in the start of May and the results are alarming. On May 6, 104 confirmed positive cases were reported. They included 30 pregnant women. On the very next day, 20 more cases were confirmed, while 60 more positive cases were reported the next day. Most patients were without any symptoms of Covid-19.

Unfortunately the district administration has an additional duty of wheat procurement. Earlier, they did their best with meagre resources in containing the virus. People are not following social distancing when they go outside of their homes.

I urge Prime Minister Imran Khan to pay attention to this worsening situation and take timely and right decisions to save Gujrat from a disaster.

Najaf Ali
Gujrat

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2020