LAHORE: The Covid-19 continued taking heavy toll on the patients in Punjab as it claimed eight more lives across the province during last 24 hours while 145 more tested positive for the virus.

The last several days have seen almost the same average of virus-related deaths (around eight deaths daily) in Punjab. With eight new deaths, the tally of casualties is now 68 in the province, according to the official figures.

The health experts have warned that the incredible loss in form of more casualties is expected in the province as the virus might take an ugly form in the coming days. They think that the growing number of cases may increase the death toll, suggesting the lockdown the only remedy to bring the number of cases and deaths down.

Of the eight new deaths, seven occurred in Rawalpindi while one in Gujrat. The total death toll in Rawalpindi is now 20.

Meanwhile, 145 more patients, including 10 employees of a local TV channel, tested positive for the virus in Punjab during last 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 4,851 on Friday. Of them, 94 new cases surfaced in the provincial capital where the total number reached 849.

145 more test positive; among them are 10 workers of a TV channel

The media persons who tested positive for the virus were from the same TV channel in Lahore whose six workers had tested positive for the virus earlier. The samples of total 45 staffers of the media house were sent for analysis and reports of 10 of them declared them positive for the virus.

A spokesperson for the health department said 20 patients were critical in various health facilities of Punjab.

Of the total patients, 924 have been discharged after their recovery so far.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2020