Pakistan’s coronavirus death toll jumps to 32, patients increase to 2,386
LAHORE (92 News) – The death toll across the country increased to 32 after six more deaths were reported during the last 24 hours.
According to the data available with the National Command and Control Authority on Thursday, the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases reached 2,386 with 268 new reported cases.
According to the break-up, there are 922 cases in Punjab, 761 in Sindh, 276 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 169 in Balochistan. The number of patients in Gilgit-Baltistan is 187, Islamabad 62 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir nine. So far 117 patients have recovered.
Partial lockdown
On the other hand, partial lockdown imposed across the country as educational institutions, shopping malls, markets, restaurants, and other private business remained closed while inter-provincial and inter-city transport was also suspended. Factories, banks and the financial sector was directed to reduce work hours.
The government has barred elder people and children from offering Friday prayers at mosques and issued guidelines for making lines with a specific distance.
The novel coronavirus – which originated in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of December 2019 – has spread to all continents excluding Antarctica. The COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the mysterious contagion has so far killed thousands of people and infected tens of thousands of others across the globe.
Though the deadly infestation has been contained by the Chinese government in Wuhan, the virus has now spread elsewhere, especially in Europe and the United States, with the World Health Organisation declaring Europe as the new epicentre of the viral disease.
Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained unscathed until February 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He had returned from Iran – one of the worst-hit countries.
After a brief pause following the first case, COVID-19 cases witnessed a sharp surge as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive.
