LAHORE: As many as 27 more coronavirus-infected patients died in Punjab on Sunday as compared to 25 deaths from the virus on Saturday, taking the tally to 1,871 in the province so far.

The primary and secondary healthcare department has reported 1,020 new coronavirus cases in Punjab, taking the total number of coronavirus-positive patients to 81,317 in the province.

Of 1,020 new coronavirus cases, 442 have been reported from Lahore, 114 from Rawalpindi, 61 from Vehari, 60 from Gujrat, 53 from Multan and 48 from Faisalabad.

A spokesperson for the health department said 7,818 coronavirus tests were conducted during the last 24 hours in Punjab. The total number of tests conducted so far is 533,040.

The spokesperson says as many as 44,671 coronavirus-positive patients have recovered so far.

CHIEF MINISTER: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Sunday paid a surprise visit to various areas of Lahore without protocol and reviewed steps taken to impede the spread of coronavirus. He himself drove the vehicle and inspected implementation of the SOPs issued by the government in Gulberg, Jail Road, Model Town, Garden Town and other areas. He also inspected the partial closure of some areas because of higher Covid-19 cases.

He expressed his displeasure over not wearing masks by some police personnel and non-implementing restrictions.

Mr Buzdar asserted that the mask wearing condition would be strictly implemented and appealed to the masses to abide by government guidelines in order to save themselves and others from corona pandemic.

“We are standing by the masses in this hour of distress and working hard to save them from the pandemic,” Mr Buzdar said.

Meanwhile, the chief minister accorded approval to special allowance for the Rescue 1122 staff with effect from April 1.

He also approved ‘Shaheed Package’ to financially compensate the families of the Rescue 1122 staffers who died from coronavirus while performing their duties.

A notification has also been issued in this regard.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2020