Another seven areas sealed in City: Yasmin.

LAHORE -- The Punjab government sealed seven more areas in the provincial capital from midnight between Wednesday and Thursday for a week as a preventive measures against coronavirus.

Addressing a news conference, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said that Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Gulberg, Gulshan Ravi, Garden Town, Faisal Town, Model Town and Walled City areas have been sealed.

She said that strategies had been evolved to force the residents to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised by the government against coronavirus.

Dr Yasmin appreciated doctors, nurses and paramedical staff for serving on the front-line against the deadly virus. She said the government had taken several steps to overcome the pandemic, adding that all kinds of necessary medicines had been provided to the hospitals.

She urged the shopkeepers to ensure the implementation of coronavirus SOPs, otherwise, the government would have to shutdown those markets where violations were observed. 'It is a collective responsibility of every individual to support the government which is struggling to overcome the virus,' she added.

She said that market committees should ensure following the SOPs. She said the opposition criticised the smart lockdown but it was clear that its results were positive and on-ground situation of coronavirus was under control.

'There is no shortage of medicines and beds in the hospitals,' she added.

The minister said that on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the PPSH and PSH department had made a comprehensive plan to increase the capacity of hospitals across the province. She said the government had increased the number of High Dependency Beds (HDBs) from 661 to 1228 and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) from 187 to 205 in Lahore hospitals.

In Nishter Hospital Multan, she said the number of Corona Dedicated beds were...