DW BUREAU / chandigarh two more persons succumbed to coronavirus in Punjab on Friday, taking the death toll to 122, while 188 fresh cases pushed the infection tally in the state to 4,957. One person died in Bathinda and another in Fatehgarh Sahib, as per the medical bulletin. Punjab continues to see a surge in new coronavirus cases with 188 more people testing positive for the virus on Friday. The state has witnessed 1,833 new cases since June 15. Among the fresh cases detected on Friday, 67 were in Ludhiana, 31 in Patiala, 24 in Sangrur, 14 in Amritsar, 13 in Fazilka, 10 in Pathankot, nine in Gurdaspur, six each in Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali and Rupnagar and 2 in Ferozepur, as per bulletin. Of them, four were foreign returnees, while 26 had travel history to other states, it stated. Nine coronavirus patients were discharged from various hospitals after they recovered from the infection. A total of 3,201 people have been cured so far, as per bulletin. There are 1,634 active cases in the state as of now. Amritsar continued to top the COVID-19 tally in the state with 852 coronavirus cases. It is followed by 730 in Ludhiana, 668 in Jalandhar, 346 in Sangrur, 274 in Patiala, 234 in Mohali , 207 in Gurdaspur, 205 in Pathankot, 187 in Tarn Taran,  166 in Hoshiarpur, 126 in SBS Nagar, 125 in Muktsar, 107 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 101 each in Faridkot and Rupnagar, 92 in Moga, 90 in Fazilka, 88 in Ferozepur, 85 in  Bathinda, 83 in Kapurthala, 46 in Barnala and 44 in Mansa, as per bulletin. Six patients are critical and are on ventilator support, while 24 are on oxygen support, it said. A total of 2,76,919 samples have been taken for testing so far, as per bulletin. Meanwhile, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation has initiated emergency measures to ramp up infrastructure facilities to handle patients, in case of a flare up in COVID 19 cases. "The groundwork has already started to set up dedicated COVID care units at separate locations in all the districts with the provision of isolation beds," said Razia Sultana, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister in a press communiqué released here today. Sharing the detail of the work initiated in this direction Mrs. Razia Sultana said that one such isolation centre with 50 beds capacity has been set up at Village Dhahan Kaleran of district SBS Nagar by the department with the support of Department of B&R department, doctors at Guru Nanak Charitable Hospital. She said that 9 air conditioning systems have been installed for the comfort of the patients in a very short span of time. She said that ventilation system along with sodium hypochlorite solution tank at roof top has also been provided. "The health infrastructure in other hospitals is also being ramped up to deal with the crisis," said Sultana. The Water Supply and Sanitation Minister said that apart from this the department is taking all necessary steps to maintain uninterrupted water supply and unhindered sewage services to the Isolation Center. She said that all 40 pump operators spread out in all the villages of Banga block have also been trained on precautionary measures to be taken to combat COVID-19. She said that disinfection is being carried out regularly to ensure availability of potable water for drinking purposes. Pump operators are also liaisoning with Gram Panchayat Water and Sanitation Committees (GPWSCs) to maintain water supply schemes being run by them. In case of any breakdowns, leakages etc. technical support along with repair materials are being immediately provided the department, said Razia Sultana. (editor@dailyworld.in)