Virus at June peak-level in Punjab
Second wave infections have reached June peak-levels across the province, the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab informed a meeting of the apex committee on COVID-19, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The committee was also told that 207 additional ventilators have been provided to various hospitals across the province.
Recently, the provincial authorities reactivated the 300-bed Lahore Expo Center quarantine facility amidst surges in coronavirus cases.
Pakistan in talks with China, Russia for vaccine
The Government of Pakistan is in talks with China, Russian and other countries for the procurement of a COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest date, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan said on Monday, December 7.
The vaccine may be made available between January and March, and will be administered to healthcare workers and the elderly in the first phase of vaccination. However, he clarified that a vaccine would only be procured after its efficacy and safety have been proven.
COVID-19 claims 41 lives in Sindh
Sindh reported its highest single-day death toll as 41 patients succumbed to the second wave of the infectious disease in past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths in the province to 3,060. Amongst the latest fatalities was Sindh Government Hospital New Karachi ENT surgeon Dr. Muhammad Warris.
This is the greatest number of casualties suffered in the province since the outbreak of the virus in early March.
Two Jamrud schools closed over infections
Government High School No 2 and the Government Shaheed Abdul Azam Higher Secondary School in Jamrud in the Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were sealed for five days on Monday after a collective 40 teachers and students were found to be positive for the novel coronavirus disease.
Although under the directives of the federal government, schools and colleges had been closed, however students were asked to attend classes on campus once a week and take home assignments as educational institutions in the district are unable to take online classes due to lack of internet facilities.