LAHORE: Coronavirus claimed lives of five more critical patients while 273 people tested positive for the virus during the last 24 hours in Punjab.

Most of the new cases (116) were reported in Lahore, 71 from Rawalpindi, six each from Gujrat and Mianwali, five each from Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, DG Khan and 23 from Multan.

It is the highest number of cases reported in Punjab since Sept 15 when this number was 212 in the province.

According to the official report released by the Punjab government on Thursday, most of the new deaths were reported from Lahore and Rawalpindi. Health officials predicted a sharp surge in corona cases in coming days.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2020