As many as 29 people died across Punjab due to the novel coronavirus, which is the highest-ever death toll in a single day in the province since the start of the pandemic.
With these 29 deaths, the total number of deaths from the virus has reached 410 across the province. Punjab's Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has reported 927 new coronavirus cases, taking the total positive cases to 22,964. Lahore is the most affected city of the province with 10,329 cases of Covid-19.
A spokesman for the health department said that so far 223,074 tests have been conducted. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Friday that implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) was the only viable solution to the coronavirus.
In a statement, the CM maintained that Punjab government had taken timely and effective measures against the pandemic. He appealed to the people to support the government measures for combating Covid-19, as people's cooperation would yield positive results against this disease.
It may be added that over 2250 corona positive patients are admitted to different hospitals across the province, 280 of them in private hospitals. Furthermore, over 1300 positive victims are in home isolation.
Health professionals have warned the people to show seriousness towards novel coronavirus, as by following precautionary measures, they can save themselves and others from the virus. They also expressed concern over surge in corona cases among doctors, nurses and paramedics.
Quoting a study published in a journal, they said one in 10 diabetics with coronavirus dies within seven days of hospital admission. Two-thirds of the patients were men, and the average age across both genders was 70, the study found.
"The presence of diabetic complications and increased age increase the risk of death," the health professional said. Leading TB and chest specialist Dr Aamir Nazir said Pakistan is among the top 10 countries in the world for absolute increase in diabetes prevalence.
"The prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan has reached 17.1 per cent, now 148 per cent higher than previously reported," he said, adding: "In 2019, over 19 million adults in Pakistan are estimated to be living with diabetes, putting them at risk of life-threatening complications. Some 8.5 million of these 19 million are undiagnosed, and, as a result, may be particularly at risk."
He said, "We must do more to prevent type 2 diabetes by diagnosing early on in order to prevent serious health complications; we must also ensure that every diabetic person has affordable and uninterrupted access to the care they need."
He asked the diabetics to regularly check their diabetes, maintain it to avoid health complications amid the Covid-19 pandemic.