LAHORE: With 24 deaths, the Punjab province on Friday again reported the highest number of new cases of the coronavirus 913.

On the reports of continuous rise in the reported cases, the government has imposed smart lockdown in five localities of Rawalpindi with issuing directions to the district police and the government authorities to ensure implementation on the guidelines there to restrict mass movement of the public.

According to the notification, the lockdown was imposed in B Block of Satellite Town, at Dhoke Kala Khan, at Sadiqabad, Mahra Padyal and Jajja village.

After Lahore, Rawalpindi was the second city of the Punjab province where the infection rate has been high since first wave of the virus.

According to the Covid-19 update released on Saturday, out of the total number of new infections most 538 were reported from Lahore.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2021