Says there is a decline in new cases, still next week is crucial
Staff Reporter
Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid has said that there is an uptick in Covid-19 cases in south Punjab and stressed the need for implementation of coronavirus SOPs to stem the spread.
Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, Dr Yasmin said, “The number of coronavirus cases has been increasing in south Punjab.”
The minister said that the positivity ratio of Covid-19 cases in Rajanpur is 25 percent while in Rahim Yar Khan it is 23 percent.
Yasmin Rashid said that work in the oxygen industry will continue even during Eidul Fitr holidays and appealed to the public that news relating to the availability of oxygen must be cross-checked with the govt.
The minister said that 15,000 corona tests were conducted on Sunday. Dr Yasmeen said in Lahore the corona positivity ratio is 15 percent, in Faisalabad 17 percent and Sargodha 16 percent.
See Also: Pakistan logs 118 new coronavirus deaths, 3,785 infections in a day She said wherever corona SOPs were implemented the positivity ratio had subsequently decreased.
“COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment on 18 out of 98 ventilators,” she added. She shared that smart lockdown has been implemented in many places in Lahore and Multan with a population of 247,000.
She announced that as per the decisions, petrol pumps, tandoors and medical stores will remain open amid the lockdown while the vaccination centre will be open except for Eid holidays.
The health minister said that there has been a noticeable decline in the test to positivity ratio in Punjab due to lockdowns and restrictions. There has been a decline in hospital admissions as well.
In the DHQs and THQs of Punjab, 685 beds are in use out of those 2685 reserved for Corona patients.
At the DHQs and THQs, 18 patients are under treatment from the 98 ventilators reserved for Corona patients.
Through Smart lockdowns, movement of 90,000 population of Punjab has been placed under restrictions. Compliance with mask wearing will be ensured.
Railway service will be allowed with 70 % of capacity and intercity transport will be allowed till 6.00 pm on Monday so that people are able to travel to their home towns.
The Health Minister further said,” The Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department facilities have also shown declining trend in their hospitals as well.
In Gujranwala, patients are under treatment at 62 % ventilators, in Multan 70%, in Lahore 74%, in Rawalpindi 28%, in Bahawalpur 42%, and in Faisalabad 29%. The rush has decreased a bit due to reduction in the number of cases.
In Gujranwala, 59 beds in High Dependency Units are occupied, Rawalpindi 40%, Gujrat 30%, Lahore 33%, Faisalabad 43%, Multan 62%, Bahawalpur 45%, and in Jehlum 25 % beds are occupied. By the blessings of the Almighty, the Corona situation is getting better in Punjab.
We have achieved the plateau. The number of admissions and the recovered patients are getting level. Improved healthcare facilities are available for Corona patients. Rumors are being spread about shortage of oxygen in Punjab.
Currently, our officials in health department are working 24/7 for Corona. I salute frontline health workers for serving Corona patients without taking any leave.
All doctors will be duty ion hospitals during Eid holidays so that no patients face any problem.
Dr Yasmin Rashid elaborated, “Federal Minister Asad Umar has assured that there will be no shortage of vaccine and separately Punjab has allocated Rs1.5 billion for the purpose and procurement process is almost complete. By the end of May, we will try to procure more vaccine.
This is a continuous battle against Corona and people must themselves vaccinated.
There has been no side effects of Corona vaccine so far.
So far we have vaccinated over 1.8 million people in Punjab. Dr. Yasmin Rashid further appealed to people to celebrate Eid with simplicity. Corona Pandemic and hit the entire world.
The world economy has been badly hit by the Pandemic. Over 8,000 people lost their lives to the Pandemic. Every other house is having Corona patients. Let us pray to Almighty for the end of the Pandemic.
