RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Two more coronavirus patients died in Punjab on Monday, taking the total death toll in the province to 15.

The total number of COVID-19 cases crossed the mark of 1,684 in the province after 191 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours.

A spokesman for the provincial primary and secondary health department said that out of the total number of deaths, seven were reported in Lahore, four in Rawalpindi, one in Rahim Yar Khan, one in Faisalabad and one in Gujrat.

The spokesman said that steps were being taken to enhance testing facilities.

Meanwhile, a team of Chinese experts imparted Pakistani doctors at the King Edward Medical University with training on COVID-19 case detection, prevention and clinical management.

The Chinese experts, led by Minghui, held technical sessions.

Li Fengsen, Lu Dongmei, Song Yunlin, Enwer Nasiroula, Zhang Li, Meng Cunren and Liu Wanli delivered lectures on their respective areas of expertise and shared with Pakistani doctors their experience of controlling the pandemic in Wuhan.

They told their hosts about their experiences in containment strategies, signs and symptoms and lessons learnt on how to provide care to the critically ill patients.

The Chinese experts said that social distancing and isolation of confirmed and suspected patients was the key to overcoming the pandemic.

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, important decisions are being made. Although we are increasing the number of beds and ventilators, yet we have learnt that social distancing and stopping the transmission is the key to controlling the disease. The people of Pakistan and the government are jointly fighting this battle. It is a positive development that people are returning to their homes from Multan quarantine center.”