LAHORE: With 64 more Covid-related deaths on Fridayin Punjab, the positivity rate of the coronavirus increased to 38.4 in Multan, 15.4 in Bahawalpur and 11.2 in Faisalabad while it dropped to 6.9 in Lahore.

Following a massive surge in the positivity rate of infection, the Punjab government has imposed a lockdown on six localities of Multan -- Bilal Colony, Shujahabad Road, Chowk Shaheedan, Babar Road, New Nazimabad, Bosan Road and Sultanabad Road.

The instructions have also been issued to restrict business activities in local markets in the lockdown areas of the city.

The lockdown will remain till June 15.

The health department issued a notification in this respect here on Friday, directing the district and police authorities to ensure implementations of the guidelines in letter and spirit to curtail the infection.

The official figures further showed that Rawalpindi and Gujranwala were also among the cities which were reporting high infection rates – 9.4pc and 7.3pc.

Meanwhile, the Covid update released by the health authorities showed that the total number of infections reached 332,000 after 898 more people tested positive for the virus during the last 24 hours in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021