LAHORE: The Covid-19 claimed the lives of 48 more patients in Punjab during the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 6,188.

Of the new deaths, most occurred in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan while the total number of the positive cases in Punjab reached 210,095 after 2,330 more tested positive for the virus.

Of the new positive cases, a majority of them 1,233 were recorded in Lahore.

According to the official figures released by the Punjab government on Saturday, the virus was spreading fast, particularly in four cities of the province including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad.

The health and medical experts warned that one of the major factors behind the massive surge was the presence of a UK variant that spreads 70 per cent fast than that reported previously.

They declared it the peak season of the infection in Punjab which might take an ugly shape in weeks to come, suggesting the public to take preventive measures and the health authorities to expand the services to prevent deaths.

The Saturday’s data showed that the Punjab government performed only 16,479 Covid tests across the province, a number that was insufficient to estimate the disease burden.

It further shared that most of the total positive cases and deaths were reported from Lahore where the number of infections reached 110,654 and deaths 2,530.

Rawalpindi also presented a worrying situation after Lahore where the total number of infections stood at 17,364 and death toll 981.

A spokesperson for the health department said the condition of 30 patients was critical.

He said 1,245 patients tested positive for the virus recovered completely during the last 24 hours across the province.

SMART LOCKDOWN: The Punjab government late on Saturday proposed a smart lockdown in 27 more areas of the provincial capital.

The lockdown was proposed in various areas of Johar Town, Iqbal Town, PIA Society, Architect Society, Phase-4 and Phase 5, B and C blocks of Model Town, Ahmad Block of Garden Town, D Block of Estate Life Housing Society, L Block of Valencia Town, Muslim Park of Shahdara, Raza Block, Kamran, Nargis and Gulshan Block of Iqbal Town and some streets of Gulshan-i-Ravi.

The Punjab government has directed the police and district authorities to take measures as per Covid guidelines in the areas recommended for imposition of smart lockdown in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2021