Punjab to introduce vaccine after successful trials: Dr Yasmin.

LAHORE -- Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that the government was making all out efforts to secure academic year for students by implementing the SOPs.

Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister Secretariat on Monday, she said that educational institutions have been asked to allow 50 per cent students in a class on alternative days.

'SOPs shall be strictly implemented and situation on Corona Pandemic in educational institutions shall be reviewed again on February 8', she said.

Special Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Silwat Saeed, Additional Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Omar Farooq Alvi, Deputy Secretary Rafia Haider, Director (Electronic Media) Directorate General Public Relations Ms Rubina Zahid and other officials were also present. The Health Minister said that as many as 560 people tested positive for COVID-19 during the last 24 hours. The cumulative number of cases in the first and second wave was 149,782, with 4432 lives lost whereas overall 134,490 people had lost lives.

She said 'If the first and second wave were to be compared, the first wave was more intense. In the last 24 hours, 15,195 tests were performed whereas the total number of tests performed was 2720,722.

The overall ratio in Punjab is 4.4 with Lahore remaining the top city. This ratio is still much less compared to other provinces. We have set up 20 Bio Safety Level- 3 Labs in Punjab and we have taken the total number of labs to 20 from two.

Two new BSL-3 Labs have been set up in Rahim Yar Khan and Multan and the PC-1s of 5 new BSL-3 Labs is ready as we plan to take the number of Labs to 25 within the current fiscal year.

These five new labs are being set up in Okara, Kharian, Layyah, Wah and Mianwali. We have an overall capacity to perform 24,000 Corona tests in 24 hours.

It is regrettable that rumours are being spread about the corona pandemic. We have not yet got any vaccine and the process of registration has been initiated.

The storage of the vaccine is very important and facility has been arranged at all districts of Punjab. The storage has been arranged at 2,385 ice-lined refrigerators across Punjab. Cold rooms have been ensured in all districts and the Vaccine Management Committees shall be headed by Deputy Commissioners.

The storage facility shall be available at all Teaching Hospitals, DHQs and THSQs. As many as 637 people have been trained and 76 Master Trainers shall train other vaccinators. So...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT