The COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) is fast spreading in the Punjab with new confirmed cases emerging every day, including some in Lahore.

According to health authorities, there has been an alarming increase in local transmission of the virus from person-to-person contact in the province. An outbreak of the disease is feared in the coming weeks if strict preventive measures are not taken right away.

According to Dr Yasmin Rashid the provincial minister for health, a complete lockdown is the best way to stop the outbreak. She appealed to the masses to confine themselves to their homes.

People have been advised to stay home and get no closer than six feet of others in public. Schools have been shut down till April 5. However, so far, people can be seen roaming around on the streets and crowds can be spotted everywhere in the province despite a prohibition. While in the Punjab it appears to be more or less business as usual, Sindh has taken more drastic measures.