Chandigarh, Apr 22 (IANS): SBS Nagar district, which saw the state's first death owing to coronavirus, on Wednesday became the first district in Punjab to be virus-free, said the state government.

Jaskaran Singh, the 18th patient, was discharged after being cured.

Wishing the recovered patients a healthy life, state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said all the people are now a source of inspiration for the corona-affected patients.

He said the health department and the district administration worked day and night for bringing the district out of the red zone.

The minister also praised the residents of SBS Nagar district, previous known as Nawanshahr, and said the curfew restrictions have been followed by them as per the directions of the government.

He said from March 19 to March 26, a total of 18 corona cases came up. It became a challenge to provide quality treatment services to a large number of patients, but medical and paramedical teams had bravely taken care of all patients.