Pakistan’s coronavirus patients jump to 4,005, death toll increases to 54

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The number of coronavirus patients increased to 4,005 after 577 new cases were reported during the last 24 hours on Tuesday. According to the data available with the National Command and Operation Centre, four more deaths were reported, soaring the toll to 54. Punjab continued to lead the patients tally with 2,004 cases, while patients have increased to 932 in Sindh, 500 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 202 in Balochistan and 83 in Islamabad. There are 211 reported cases in Gilgit-Baltistan and 18 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 429 patients have recovered after treatment in hospitals across the country. The condition of 28 patients is being stated to be critical. So far tests have been conducted on 39,183 patients after 3,088 tests were carried out on suspected patients during the last 24 hours. As per details, 59 percent of the cases came from different countries, while 41 percent cases are transmitted locally. As many as 7,295 beds have been allocated for coronavirus patients in 462 hospitals throughout the country. Presently 1,311 patients are being treated in different hospitals. In total, 16,737 suspected cases have been placed in 328 quarantine centres. Partial lockdown On the other hand, partial lockdown imposed is continuing 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 were 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.