Although there was no let-up in the spike of the COVID-19 cases in Punjab, particularly Lahore, Prime Minister Imran Khan ruled out a full lockdown during his visit to Lahore.
The PM’s visit to the provincial capital comes one day after the Punjab administration sent suggestions to the federal government to tighten lockout measures aimed at curbing the growing number of COVID-19 incidents.
On his visit, however, PM Imran held meetings with Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar in which it was agreed that a “smart lockout” policy would be followed, and the government would ensure strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Speaking to a press conference in Lahore alongside CM Buzdar, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid and his advisers, the PM said: “After analyzing today with my Punjab team, [we’ve decided] we won’t enforce a complete lockout but limited lockdowns— track and seal hotspot.”
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid claimed 10,000 COVID-specific beds were available in the province where out of 3,055 patients admitted, 215 were critical, and 193 were available on ventilators.
On average, she said 40 percent of the health facilities in the province were vacant and available to the Coronavirus patients. The summary suggested that a smart lockdown would not work because the disease, adding that asymptomatic cases had been the “primary source of infection and local dissemination” in the metropolitan area, had infected all parts of the city.
Extracted from City42 News
