The Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday reported first death due to Covid-19 as nationwide tally of people affected by the virus jumped to 31,744, with 11,568 cases reported in Punjab, 12,017 in Sindh, 4,875 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2,061 in Balochistan, 457 in Gilgit Baltistan, 679 in Islamabad and 87 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The virus has claimed at least 691 lives while some 8,342 coronavirus patients have recovered.
At least 206 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during the last 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 4,875. According to provincial health officials, 12 more people succumbed to the deadly disease, taking the death toll to 257. As much as 130 new patients recovered, taking the total to 1,256.
Another 44 Covid-19 cases were reported in Balochistan, according to the daily situation report by the health department, taking the total to 2,061. In addition, one more death has taken the province’s tally to 27.
Another two coronavirus cases took Jacobabad’s total to 72, according to Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri. He said that the district administration had collected the samples of 60 people out of which two came back positive.
At least 15 new Covid-19 cases emerged in Gilgit Baltistan, taking the tally to 457. According to health authorities, 16 patients also recovered from the deadly disease while the number of active cases now stood at 133.
Out of the 3,730 tests conducted across Sindh in the past 24 hours, 537 new cases were reported in the province, taking the provincial tally to 12,017. With 11 more death reported in the province, the death toll has speared to 200.
In his daily press briefing Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated 68 more people have recovered from the virus during the past 24 hours. He further said that markets have opened across the province at the decided time, and urged traders to strictly abide by the SOPs. Murad said he will personally visit markets to ensure that the SOPs were being followed.
Yet another police official who had contracted the novel coronavirus passed away on Monday in Karachi, bringing the number of police personnel killed by the virus in the city to three. Those who have died include two ASIs and a constable.
ASI Shergul Khan Niazi, who was deputed at MT Garden, had been infected by coronavirus while on duty during the lockdown. Previously, ASI Anwar Jahangir, who was deputed at City SSP office, and Constable Anas of the Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell had died while being treated for the contagious disease.
Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that the provincial leadership is being accused of taking ‘excessive’ measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. In a statement, he said that some PTI leaders have said the virus is a minor flu while others have alleged the province is misreporting the number of the cases. “Even after so many deaths in Sindh, PTI is saying that there is nothing to worry about,” he said. “If you cannot help us, then at least don’t mislead the people,” he added.
Punjab health department on Monday reported 475 new Covid-19 cases, taking its tally to 11,568. Five people also succumbed to the disease, bringing the number of fatalities in the province to 197. According to the department, 37.37% people have recovered so far while a total of 130,546 test have been conducted.
As Pakistan crosses 100 cases of Covid-19 among prisoners across the country, it also reported the first casualty of the virus from Adiala Jail.
The first case of coronavirus also surfaced as a NAB deputy director tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The 32-year-old works for NAB Quetta. The bureau has decided to test all its employees and their families in Quetta.
The World Health Organisation Monday said that ‘extreme vigilance’ is needed as countries begin to exit from lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, amid global concerns about a second wave of infections. “Now we are seeing some hope as many countries exit these lockdowns,” Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s emergencies programme, told an online news briefing.
