'More dangerous than last wave': As coronavirus spreads, Punjab CM warns against complacency

• Punjab has the highest number of active cases, with 10,195 people suffering from the virus as of Monday, March 15.
• During the last 24 hours, most of the deaths were reported from Punjab, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• The maximum ventilators are occupied in four major areas, including Multan 28%, Islamabad 38%, Peshawar 23% and Lahore 34%.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday warned the public against taking the current wave of the coronavirus pandemic lightly while directing the authorities to ensure strict compliance of SOPs across the province.

In a statement, CM Buzdar described the current wave of the virus is "more dangerous" than the previous. COVID-19 cases have spiked sharply in the country's largest province during the last two weeks.

According to government data, 1,191 cases of coronavirus were reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours, out of 2,253 cases in total reported from all over Pakistan.

The provincial government has also reimposed restrictions in order to contain the virus and enforced smart lockdowns in various cities, while educational institutes in seven cities have been shut for two weeks from today.

Read more: As coronavirus cases rise, Punjab govt imposes smart lockdown in various cities

Buzdar said there would no compromise on the safety of people and that it is a top priority for the government to ensure that the lives of the people are secured.

The chief minister directed the police and local administration to ensure the closure of markets and bazaars according to the new timings announced by the government.

He said that the government is aware of the problems faced by traders, but asked them to prioritise people’s lives as these measures were necessary.

"Due to flagrant violation of COVID-19 SOPs, the number of cases is increasing along with the death toll," he noted.

CM Buzdar also urged the public to help the administration in observing safety guidelines.

Read more: Gujrat doctor says no shortage of beds for coronavirus patients, despite NCOC's claims

2,253 new cases reported

The national tally of total active COVID-19 cases was recorded at 22,038 on Monday, with 2,253 more people testing positive for the virus and 1,307 people recovering from the disease during the last 24 hours.

A total of 29 corona patients also lost their lives during the past 24 hours, 26 of whom were under treatment in hospitals. Three were out of hospitals in quarantine at home, according to the latest update issued by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).

During the last 24 hours, most of the deaths occurred in Punjab, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Of the total 29 deaths, 16 of the deceased had been on ventilator support.

The maximum ventilators were occupied in four major areas, including Multan 28%, Islamabad 38%, Peshawar 23% and Lahore 34%.

Read more: $150 million budget for coronavirus vaccines can be increased, says Asad Umar

The maximum oxygen beds (oxygen providing facility other than ventilators) were also occupied in four major areas: Gujrat 59%, Peshawar 45%, Islamabad 36% and Lahore 30%.

Around 245 ventilators were occupied elsewhere in the country, while no COVID affected person was on ventilator in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Balochistan.

Some 44,061 tests were conducted across the country on Sunday, including 8,036 in Sindh, 22,916 in Punjab, 6,931 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 4,773 in Islamabad, 483 in Balochistan, 312 in GB, and 610 in AJK.

Around 571,878 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan, with the recovery ratio currently at over 90%.

Since the pandemic outbreak, a total of 607,453 cases have been detected. This includes those perished, recovered and under treatment for COVID-19. The break up is: AJK 11,017, Balochistan 19,220, Gilgit-Baltistan 4,961, Islamabad 48,081, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 76,104, Punjab 186,659 and Sindh 261,411.

About 13,537 deaths were recorded in the country since the eruption of the contagion. Around 4,458 have perished in Sindh, where five deaths occurred in the hospitals during the past 24 hours.

Deaths in Punjab have been 5,769, with 16 in the past 24 hours alone — 13 of them in hospitals and three out of hospitals.

In KP, the number has reached 2,159, with six dying in hospital on Sunday; 526 in Islamabad, two died in hospital on Sunday; 202 in Balochistan; 103 in GB; and 320 in AJK.