BAHAWALPUR: With coronavirus spreading rapidly across south Punjab, Bahawalpur district has been listed among the top 10 districts of Punjab with highest number of deaths and positive cases of Covid-19.

This was stated by coronavirus focal person, Dr Zakir Hussain, here on Sunday.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Hussain said the district was ranked ninth most dangerous in the province with 23 deaths and 848 cases of Covid-19 so far. In the last 24 hours, one death and 43 new cases were reported from the district.

Meanwhile, 18 Covid-19 patients were discharged on Sunday from government civil hospital. Medical Superintendent Dr Rana Muhammad Yousaf told Dawn that the recovered patients included 13 doctors of Bahawal Victoria Hospital and three from Balochistan.

MULTAN: Nishtar Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha has tested positive for coronavirus.

Traffic wardens, Nishtar VC, civil judge, MPA, ex-hockey captain among fresh cases

Talking to Dawn, Dr Pasha said he decided to get his test conducted after he felt fever and flu three days ago. He said he had gone into self-isolation. “However, I’m feeling better now as the symptoms have disappeared,” he said.

PTI MPA Wasim Khan Badozai also tested positive for coronavirus. He got his tests conducted from two labs on Friday. The Nishtar Hospital test came out negative, while a private laboratory declared him positive. Mr Badozai has isolated himself at home.

Meanwhile, 14 traffic wardens have also tested positive for Covid-19 and isolated themselves at their homes. According to a police spokesman, the tests of 80 wardens were conducted out of which 14 came out positive.

TOBA TEK SINGH: A retired lady health visitor died at the DHQ hospital’s isolation ward on Sunday.

Safia Bibi was admitted to the hospital as a suspected Covid-19 patient and her throat and nasal swabs were sent to Faisalabad’s Allied Hospital for a test. Her report was still awaited.

Gojra-based dental surgeon Dr Rana Habib Elahi died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in Faisalabad on Sunday. The deceased had tested positive for coronavirus two days ago and was shifted to Faisalabad when his condition deteriorated.

Meanwhile, the national hockey team’s former captain, Muhammad Nadeem, tested Covid-19 positive. He is in self-quarantine at home in Gojra. He is an officer at the National Bank of Pakistan Gojra’s main branch, which had already been sealed after its chief cashier died of Covid-19.

MUZAFFARGARH: A civil judge tested positive for Covid-19, while two people died of the virus on Sunday.

Victim Haji Abdul Aziz from the Shehr Sultan area was admitted to the Indus Hospital, while the other, Mahi Khan Bulla, was in home isolation at Ber Band Sheher Sultan.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Sardar Khalid Naeem and his family all tested positive.

Sources said the Indus Hospital administration had decreased coronavirus beds from 200 to 60, while the administration said there was no space left for patients of the virus.

The Pakistan Medical Association local chapter said if Indus Hospital had run out of beds, the coronavirus patients could go to DHQ hospital.

SIALKOT: The total number of confirmed coronavirus patients has increased to 1,381 after 154 fresh cases were reported in the district on Sunday.

Health department officials said 35 healthcare professionals had also tested positive for the virus. They were admitted to Govt Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital and the field hospital here.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2020