LAHORE: Following a tremendous pressure of Covid cases, the Punjab Health Department has suspended all kinds of elective surgeries at the four major teaching hospitals for two weeks.

The procedures were suspended at the Lahore General Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

Issuing a notification here on Monday, the health department said the decision was taken in the light of the recommendations forwarded by the Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG).

“In compliance of the recommendations of CEAG, it has been decided that critical elective surgeries requiring ICU management are hereby suspended at four government teaching hospitals of Punjab with immediate effect for a period of two weeks,” reads the notification.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over a surge in corona cases, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique directed the health authorities to start a door-to-door vaccination campaign in all districts.

He gave this direction while presiding over a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here on Monday.

CS orders door-to-door vaccination campaign

The meeting reviewed the pandemic situation, provision of medical facilities in hospitals and the vaccination targets.

The CS said a door-to-door vaccination campaign in eight cities of the province had been underway since July 26 and its scope would be extended to all districts.

He expressed concern over a surge in cases and asked the CEAG to monitor the situation closely.

The CS said it was evident from the data that the vaccine was highly effective against the virus and that the patients who received even a single dose were in a better condition than those who did not.

He said if vaccination could save precious lives, laxity in vaccination would be a ‘criminal negligence’.

Mr Malik said the coronavirus could be prevented only by vaccinating as many people as possible. He mentioned that the vaccination campaign was a national cause, adding that implementation of NCOC guidelines would be ensured in any case.

He appealed to the citizens to continue following SOPs along with vaccination.

Gave a briefing, the secretaries of Primary Health and Specialised Healthcare departments said the rate of positive cases had increased to over eight per cent in 15 districts of Punjab.

They said the vaccination was in full swing in all districts and more than 600,000 people were being inoculated daily. The province currently had a sufficient stock of vaccines.

According to the official data shared here on Monday, 1,609 more positive cases were reported from across the province during the last 24 hours.

Similarly 24 more patients died of the virus during the same period, bringing the total number of deaths to 11,821.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2021