Strict lockdown will be enforced in selected hotspots of Lahore

Lahore : Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said here on Monday that the number of confirmed patients in Punjab is 54,138 so far and in the last 24 hours 1537 patients tested positive.

Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister Secretariat, the Minister said strict lockdown will be enforced in selected hotspots of Lahore.

Present with her in the press conference were Commissioner Lahore Saifullah Anjum, CCPO Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed, Additional Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Asif Tufail, CEO Mayo Hospital Professor Asad Aslam Khan and Deputy Commissioner Lahore Danish Afzal. 

Punjab Health Minister said that 1038 people have lost their lives to Corona virus in Punjab and 62 people lost lives in the last 24 hours. So far 18000 have recovered in the province. In the last 24 hours 9103 tests were performed whereas the total number of tests performed so far is 356,678 in Punjab. Lahore is now the epicenter of the Corona Pandemic in the province as the total number of patients here is 26,487, Rawalpindi has 4217 patients, Multan 3140, Gujranwala 2014, Faisalabad 3750, and in other cities the number ranges between 500 to 700. 

The Minister said, “After easing the lockdown, the government started an awareness campaign but people did not comply with the SOPs. Even though strict action was taken and some markets and shops were forcibly closed down yet the people did not take the Pandemic serious. The Prime Minister had hinted at a different strategy to counter the Corona Pandemic during his visit to Lahore. In the last two days, the worst hit areas include Shahadra, Walled city, Mozang, Shadbagh, Harbanspura, Gulberg, Cantt, Nishtar Town, Allama Iqbal Town and some other small housing societies. After lockdown in these areas, essential food shops, medical stores, medical instrument factories and other ancillary industries will be gradually opened.

From 12.00 night tomorrow onwards, these areas will be closed for two weeks. In this duration, a thorough analysis of the COVID-19 cases will be made and if a significant reduction is seen, the lockdown may be eased before two weeks. People are requested to observe precautionary measures otherwise the government may have to extend the lockdown to other areas.

The only solution to the Corona Pandemic is Social Distancing and observing the precautionary measures. The Pandemic has afflicted the entire world and has hit the world economy.”

Elaborating further, Dr. Yasmin Rashid said, “China stopped the spread of the virus by innovative strategies but they are now again reporting the cases. New Zealand’s population is only half of Lahore’s. We must remember Pakistan is the world’s fifth largest country by population and countries with large population will report corresponding number of new infections.

In comparison with neighbouring countries i.e. India, our statistics present a better picture. We are trying our best to control the Pandemic and we have been able to control and contain the number of cases as well as deaths to as low as possible.

Though statistics indicate that we have fought the Pandemic better than other countries of the region, yet we have to improve further and save more lives. We are taking all out measures to control the Pandemic and all necessary facilities are being provided to people.

Currently, 140 High Dependency Units in the Specialized Healthcare hospitals and 368 in private hospitals are available whereas 30% of totals beds in all hospitals have been reserved for Corona patients. Only today, 15 new ventilators are being set up at Mayo Hospital and another 15 at Jinnah Hospital. Moreover, 1000 beds will be added in one week in Punjab hospitals.” 

The Minister further added that the Actemra injection is available in all government hospitals and is being administered to patients on advice of experts. The Punjab Healthcare Commission is ensuring its availability at private hospitals. Another 10 ventilators are being installed at the Nishter Medical University and Ventilators at Tayyip Erdgon Hospital are being made 100% functional. She requested people to refrain from spreading unverified and misleading information through Social Media as it creates panic. 

The Minister also said that Punjab has set up a helpline 1033 where people can get medical advice, information about the disease, information about the admitted patients and file complaints. Lahore citizens can may call at number 042 9921136-8 for information and complaints. She hoped that the lockdown in selected areas will help control the Pandemic and people with follow the SOPs. 

Responding to the queries of journalists, the Minister said that markets will be closed down in the said areas and the only shops providing essential items will be allowed to open. There were 358 cases in Allama Iqbal Town and 259 cases in WAPDA Town. Only critically ill patients are put on ventilators and doctors make the final decision as to who will be put on ventilators.

She also said that a meeting was held with YDA in which provision of facilities for doctors were discussed. The NDMA is providing full support to the provincial health departments (s) and the problems of frontline workers are being resolved on priority basis.

She said the healthcare workers serving for Corona patients deserve utmost respect from the nation for their great service.