Micro-lockdowns return in Punjab
856 micro-lockdowns have been imposed in all 36 districts in Punjab after 1,235 patients emerged from identified areas. Disease prevalence in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, and Gujrat is higher than in other parts of the province following the reopening of schools on September 15, as well as public complacency in observing government-mandated SOPs. The lockdowns have restricted a total of 7,295 citizens to their residences. Two lockdowns have been imposed in Lahore after the emergence of 520 cases in identified hotspot areas.
COVID-19 threat higher in winter
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued directives to the health department to declare a high alert over the threat of the rapid spread of a number of diseases, including the novel coronavirus disease, during winter. According to the Seasonal Awareness and Alert Letter, the Congo virus, dengue, diphtheria, pertussis, seasonal flu, extensively drug-resistant typhoid, and COVID-19 are expected to spread faster in the months between October to February, and as such the NIH has advised federal, provincial and district health authorities to maintain vigilant surveillance of public health threats and to take all preventative and curative measures.
91 fresh cases in Islamabad
A private school, a girls’ college, and a department and hostel of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad were sealed after cases emerged from these institutions. 91 coronavirus cases were detected in the capital from 2,979 samples collected on October 7, a significant increase from 56 cases that were reported on October 6. Daily infections crossed the 90-case threshold for the first time since July 15.
