LAHORE: For the last five consecutive days, Punjab has reported less than 100 cases of the Covid-19, showing a constant decrease in the transmission of the virus and new confirmed cases.

It was almost for the first time that no person was confirmed as positive out of the total 1,338 contacts of 36 patients during the last 24 hours in Punjab.

On Saturday, 63 more patients tested positive for the virus, taking the total number to 96,699.

The virus claimed no life in Punjab [during the same period] and the death toll 2,195 remained unchanged.

Currently, Punjab is housing only 4,250 patients out of total 96,699 as others have completely recovered since the pandemic, according to official figures.

Province has been reporting less than 100 cases for five days

A majority of 4,250 patients are in quarantine at their homes. Out of the total cases, most of the young people between 31and 45 years of age had contracted the virus followed by the 16-30 age group.

According to figures, 27,229 people of 31-45 age group had been tested positive for Covid-19 since the pandemic in Punjab, 25,120 of 16-30 age group, 18,733 of 46-60, 9,164 of 61-75 and 1,640 of 75 years old or above.

Similarly, the virus affected 4,180 children of 1-15 year age group in Punjab as they were confirmed patients of the disease.

The health experts believed that Punjab with 56 per cent of the country’s total population is reporting lowest percentage of the virus - a good sign for analysts.

Sharing expertise, they said under the present circumstances chances to curtail the virus in Punjab increased which had been reporting highest ratio during its peak.

The statistics pertaining to the last five days showed a visible decline in the new confirmed cases and deaths.

On Aug 26, only 75 new positive cases were reported and 74 on 25th. Similarly, the province had reported 74 on Aug 27 and 96 on 28th.

The health experts feared that the threat of resurgence of the virus would be in case of sheer violation of standard operating procedure (SOPs) during Muharram.

They said the first three weeks of September would be important to decide the future of Covid-19 in Punjab and Pakistan as well.

As per primary and secondary healthcare department here on Saturday, of the 63 new cases, 17 were reported from Lahore where the total number reached 48,748 with 849 deaths.

A total of 9,603 tests were performed during the last 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2020