LAHORE: With a slight decrease in the infection and death ratio owing to strict implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs), smart lockdowns and weekend lockdown, Punjab reported 1,707 new coronavirus cases and 50 deaths during the last 24 hours.

In Lahore alone, 16 deaths were reported, taking the tally to 3,513 deaths in the provincial metropolis so far. The total number of deaths in Punjab reached 8,550.

The infection rate was 33pc in Bhakkar, 31pc in Layyah, 25pc in Multan, 24pc in Toba Tek Singh, 22pc in Faisalabad, 20pc in Gujranwala, 19pc in Pakpattan, 18pc each in Lahore, Sargodha and Dera Ghazi Khan, 17pc in Bahawalnagar, 16pc in Vehari, 15pc each in Khanewal and Mianwali, 14pc in Khushab and 13pc in Chakwal. The remaining districts reported less than 11pc infection rate.

The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department spokesman said the department had so far conducted 4.623m tests and 250,033 coronavirus patients had recovered in the province.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2021