• Friday, March 29, 2024

Coronavirus

Pakistan reports 150 new COVID-19 cases in a day

A vendor carries facemasks for sale on a deserted street during a lockdown amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Lahore’s old city on March 23, 2020. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)

By: Pramod Thomas

WITH over 150 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the last 24 hours, the number of COVID-19 patients in Pakistan reached 803, officials said on Monday (23).

The death toll increased to six after a doctor lost his life in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.

According to Federal Health Ministry, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in southern Sindh province rose to 352, Punjab province to 225, in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to 31, western Balochistan province 108, Gilgit-Baltistan 71, the capital’s Islamabad 15 while one case confirmed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Most of the new patients had recently returned from neighboring Iran.

So far, six patients have successfully recovered and discharged from the hospital, the ministry said.

Usama Riaz, a young doctor who treated coronavirus patients in Gilgit-Baltistan hospital, has died, raising the number of deaths in the country to six.

“GB Government declares Dr. Usama a national hero,” the Information Ministry of the region tweeted.

All major markets, shopping malls, restaurants, and other public spots remained closed in most parts of southern Sindh, and southwestern Balochistan — the two worst-hit provinces.

Authorities closed Karachi, and Sukkur airports suspending air travel between Sindh and rest of the country.

The provincial governments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Gilgit-Baltistan already announced partial lockdowns in their provinces and asked the public to remain in their homes.

The KP government has also declared an emergency and suspended all inter-district public transport for seven days starting on Monday.

Also in Islamabad, restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, and major malls have been closed.

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