The Punjab police chief has warned city and district police officers across the province that they will be removed from their positions and departmental action will be recommended against them if any suspected patients of the coronavirus escape from quarantine centres.

A communique sent to officers noted that incidents of people leaving quarantines without permission have taken place in Bhakkar, Sargodha and Hafizabad, saying "it has not only embarrassed the police command but also damaged the good deeds done by Punjab Police to contain the corona pandemic."

The IGP Punjab directed all the CPOs and DPOs to personally visit the quarantine facilities to assess their security and administrative arrangements.