LAHORE: The coronavirus is spreading fast in Multan and Rawalpindi where the virus positivity rate has shot up to 7 and 6 percent, respectively, an alarming surge reported for the first time in the two cities, during the last three months or so.Similarly, the positivity rate increased to 3pc in Lahore, causing concern to the health authorities who had recently declared ‘second wave’ of the virus had begun.

According to the official data presented in a recent meeting of the cabinet committee, the overall percentage of the virus positivity has increased to 2pc in Punjab. The ration was around 0.1pc in the province a couple of months back.

The fresh update on the Covid-19 cases released on Thursday by the health dept, showed 338 more people were infected in Punjab during the last 24 hours, a record number since July 23, when it was 313 with five Covid-19 related deaths.

As per official data, the virus claimed the lives of five critical patients all over the province during the last 24 hours.

“The recent official reports have confirmed the second wave of the virus has begun, particularly in big cities of the province where the positivity ratio is continuously increasing with every passing day”, said a senior health department official.

Talking to Dawn, he said the infectivity rate of the coronavirus in Punjab was 1pc on Sept 26 that has doubled in the first week of November. Similarly, he said, the virus transmission rate in Lahore was 0.1pc on Oct 1, which has now shot up to 3pc.

The virus positivity rate was 2pc on Oct 1 in Multan and Rawalpindi, which has increased to 7pc and 6pc in these cities, respectively, in the first week of Nov.

The report presented in the cabinet committee meeting stated that the positivity rate in education institutions of the province was recorded at 0.17pc.

The private labs designated for conducting Covid-19 tests also reported an upward trend in the positivity ratio with every passing day, it said.

The report stated that Punjab had also reported an upward trend of the disease among the health professionals attending patients in public as well as private sector hospitals.

According to the report, a total of 25 health professionals, including 13 doctors and six nurses and as many paramedics tested positive for the virus all over the province during last two weeks or so.

The health experts warned the persisting violation of the Covid SOPs at public places, government offices, educational institutions, parks, tourism sites and especially marriage halls and markets, is one of the major factors behind the alarming surge in the virus transmission.

The report has also recommended to the authorities concerned to sensitise the religious leaders and prayer leaders at mosques ensure adherence to the SOPs to stop the second wave of the virus from causing more harm to the population.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2020