Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that there has been a seven per cent increase in the province's oxygen demands as coronavirus cases rise.

"Today, we held a meeting in which the Punjab government set aside Rs1.5 billion [to deal with this situation]," he announced in a press conference. Buzdar said the increasing cases were putting the system under pressure.

He urged people to wear masks and follow SOPs, saying it was beneficial for them and their loved ones. "Around 400,000 people have been vaccinated in Punjab so far," he shared.

The chief minister said a "partial lockdown" would come into effect in seven cities of the province today where the positivity rate was more than 12 per cent.