Punjab govt decides to seal seven more virus hotspots

LAHORE: The Punjab government authorities have decided to seal seven more COVID-19 hotspots till June 30 in the provincial capital to limit the spread of the virus.

As per details, the health officials highlighted the socio-economic status, level of population congestion, frequency of COVID-19 cases and virus-related deaths in Gulshan-e-Ravi, Faisal Town, Gulberg, Model Town, DHA, and Garden Town of the province which will be sealed off from midnight.

While addressing a press conference in Lahore today, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said “All these areas that have been identified for virus hotspots need to be shut down completely.”

The minister further said that the main reason to seal the aforesaid areas is to stop the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the province since the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were being violated in these respective areas.

Expressing displeasure with the current smart lockdown in different parts of the city, she said that such a lockdown would not bring about the required results in slowing down the spread of the COVID-19.

“Confidently, if SOPs are implemented in a week, there will be a clear reduction in COVID-19 cases,” Yasmin Rashid maintained.

She said the government is trying its level best to ensure economic activities took place and at the same time, ensure all possible steps were being taken to for the safety of people.

Deploring that the most number of SOP violations are reported from marketplaces, the minister urged the public to abide by safety steps while strictly wearing masks, especially outdoors and at public spaces.

Speaking about the health facilities, provision of medical equipment and hospital capacity in the medical centres of the province, Rashid noted that during the last 10 days, the number of High Dependency Units (HDU) and ventilators have augmented in the province.

She said that about 30 to 50 percent of the beds in hospitals were empty. Maintaining that the government is conducting free coronavirus tests, the minister stated that about 11,000 tests are being conducted on a daily basis across the province.

The minister urged the citizens to follow SOPS and avoid going out of their home without any solid reason. She said that everything cannot be shut down in the province in order to sustain livelihoods but preventive measures can be adopted.