LAHORE: After a period of decline, the number of daily Covid deaths and new confirmed cases are surging in Punjab.

It is evident from the latest official figures that the virus has claimed lives of 50 patients during the last 24 hours in Punjab, while 712 more people tested positive for the virus during the same period.

Medical experts say the number of new cases was accelerating all over the world, particularly during the last two weeks or so. They say the upward trend is also being witnessed in Pakistan where the country-wide surge in the new cases and deaths was reported during the last a week or so.

Virus claims lives of 50 people

The number of people undergoing the coronavirus tests has also increased at the public and private labs designated by the Punjab government for the purpose.

The official on Wednesday showed the total number of the deaths and new infections in Punjab reached 5,441 and 173,395, respectively.

Of the latest reported deaths, 31 alone were recorded in the provincial capital, where the virus’ toll reached 2,187.

Similarly, Lahore again reported the highest number of new positive cases, 492, on Wednesday, taking the total number of the infections in the city to 88,247.

Other cases were reported from Sahiwal, Jhang, Bahawalnagar, Khushab, Sialkot, Chiniot, Sargodha, Khanewal, Nankana Sahib, Hafizabad, Lodhran, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Jhelum, Mianwali, Mandi Bahauddin, Layyah, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Gujrat, Kasur, Okara, and Bhakkar.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2021