LAHORE: A persistent resurge in deaths and number of the coronavirus cases has made the health authorities concerned after the virus claimed the lives of 17 people and infected 601 in Punjab during the last 24 hours.

The number was the highest since the month of July when the pandemic was at its peak. On July 6, 13 deaths were reported in Punjab while 646 new confirmed cases were registered.

Of the new confirmed cases on Friday, 245 were reported in Lahore, 102 in Rawalpindi and 47 in Multan. Other cases were reported in DG Khan, Sheikhupura, Layyah, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Faisalabad, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Okara, Lodhran, Vehari, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Bhakkar, Attock etc.

According to the official figures, most of new deaths due to Covid-19 occurred in Rawalpindi where five people died, Lahore had four deaths, Muzaffargarh two and Chiniot, Mianwali, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Toba Tek Singh and Vehari one each.

The total confirmed cases of the virus in Punjab reached 108,822 on Friday while the total number of deaths was 2,455.

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has also warned of the spread of the coronavirus and asked the public to take precautionary measures.

In a statement issued on Friday, he said that citizens would have to adopt precautionary measures to protect themselves against the deadly virus. He said the number of corona affectees and death toll are increasing day by day.

Mr Buzdar claimed that the government had taken every possible measure for safeguarding the lives of the citizens.

Citizens should also follow the standard operating procedures like before, the CM concluded.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2020