Punjab records its highest death toll in a day as 18 more die of Covid-19.

LAHORE -- As many as 18 more COVID-19 patients breathed their last in Punjab on Tuesday, the highest number of casualties in a day, since the pandemic began.

The deadly virus has so far taken 144 lives in Punjab On the other hand, as many as 491 new COVID-19 patients were reported from across the province, taking the number of confirmed cases to 8,133.

Of confirmed COVID-19 patients, 1,926 are preachers of the Tableeghi Jamat, 768 pilgrims who returned from Iran, 86 prisoners in nine districts and 5,357 citizens who either have a travel history or fell victim to local transmission.

From amongst common citizens, the highest number of cases have been reported from Lahore where number has reached 2,881.

As many as 467 patients were reported from Rawalpindi, 307 Sialkot, 276 Gujranwala, 244 Gujrat, 205 Faisalabad, 109 Multan, 91 Sargodha, 72 Rahim Yar Khan, 63 Jhelum, 62 Kasur, 56 Jhang, 51 Vehari, 47 Hafizabad, 37 DG Khan, 36 each Mandi Bahauddin and Attock, 30 Sheikhupura, 28 Muzafargarh, 25 Okara, 23 Bahawalpur, 22 Pakpattan, 21each Mianwali and Narowal, 19 Sahiwal, 18 each Lodhran, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh and Nankana Sahib, 16 Khushab, 14 Bhakkar, 13 Bahawalnagar, seven Khanewal, six Chakwal and five Layyah.

Of the 1,926 confirmed COVID-19 preachers, 815 were reported from Raiwind Markaz, 145 Sargodha, 126 Multan, 106...