LAHORE: Five more people died of the Covid-19 and 321 tested positive for it in Punjab during the last 24 hours, taking the total number of the confirmed cases to 105,856.

Of the new cases, 138 were reported in Lahore, 41 in Multan and 31 in Rawalpindi. Other cases were reported in Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Chiniot, Sargodha, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Jhang, Mianwali, Attock, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Nankana Sahib, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakpattan, Layyah, Bhakkar and Toba Tek Singh.

According to the official figures, updated by the health department on Friday, Punjab has been reporting more than 300 new positive cases of the virus everyday for the last one week while around five patients are dying daily on average. The figures show the total number of deaths has reached 2,390 since the pandemic hit Punjab.

Meanwhile, the health department has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for the participants in the Raiwind congregation to follow in letter and spirit in order to avoid further spread of the virus.

The department says 54,000 people from all over the country are allowed to attend the annual congregation at Raiwind that is being held from Nov 6 to Nov 8.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2020