-10th death reported in Punjab
-23 patients recovered
-Federal, provinctial governments working to pool resources
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Twenty-nine new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, taking the provincial tally to 448, according to a spokesperson for the Punjab health department.
Punjab now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country, overtaking Sindh’s total of 440.
Four people have died from the virus in the province so far — one in Rawalpindi and three in Lahore.
The number of deaths from the coronavirus rose to ten while 1,321 have been affected, according to the latest report released by the National Command and Control Center on coronavirus on Friday.
The national dashboard, maintained by the federal ministry of health, reported that Sindh province has been affected more due to the virus, where the number of cases stands at 440, Punjab 448, Balochistan 133, KP 180, Gilgit-Baltistan, 93, Islamabad 27 and a two cases were reported in Azad Kashmir.
During last 24 hours, another death was reported due to the virus, taking the tally to 9 countrywide. 21 patients have recovered their health, the report reads.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered to utilise all national resources to fight coronavirus pandemic and directed concerned authorities to get cooperation from foreign companies.
The premier had made the statement while meeting the officials of a Chinese company Challenge today. The Chinese company has donated 15,000 medical suits to Pakistan and 7,000 metres special fabric for producing medical gear.
PM Imran Khan said National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) could utilise all production capability of the country and provide essential equipment to people associated with medical field working on the front line to contain COVID-19. He also instructed to get cooperation of foreign companies.
As many as 37 pilgrims were allowed to leave the Quarantine Center in Dera Ghazi Khan on Friday upon showing negative results regarding the coronavirus.
Out of the total 37 pilgrims, 25 hail from Multan city, 10 from tehsil Shuja Abad and two from Jalal Pur Pirwala, spokesman of District Administration Multan informed. These zaireens were brought to Dera Ghazi Khan’s quarantine center from Taftan and allowed to leave after negative test reports. After Sindh and Balochistan, the Punjab government on Friday banned congregational prayers in a bid to curb the swiftly increasing cases of coronavirus in the country.
The provincial government issued the notification after consulting religious scholars and health experts.
According to a notification, only three to five mosque staff members (such as the imam and khateeb) are allowed to pray in the mosque. The move has been taken to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pakistan.
Earlier on Thursday, the Sindh government announced ban congregational prayers in mosques including Friday prayers in the province till April 05. The decision was announced by the provincial spokesman Murtaza Wahab on his Twitter account. He said that the provincial government has taken a big decision placing a ban on congregational prayers at the mosques from masses.
“The decision is taken after consulting all religious leaders hailing from different school of thoughts and medical experts,” he said.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor ul Haq Qadri on Thursday announced that the countrywide mosques would remain open amid coronavirus pandemic with limitations applied to the congregation within their premises during five-time prayers and Friday prayer. It must be noted that the number of deaths from the coronavirus rose to nine while 1,235 have been affected, according to the latest report released by the National Command and Control Center on coronavirus on Friday.
The national dashboard, maintained by the federal ministry of health, reported that Sindh province has been affected more due to the virus, where the number of cases stands at 429, Punjab 408, Balochistan 131, KP 147, Gilgit-Baltistan, 91, Islamabad 27 and a two cases were reported in Azad Kashmir
All government hospitals in the federal capital have been put on alert regarding the deadly coronavirus, according to a notification issued here on Friday.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Polyclinic and other government-run hospitals will remain on a high till further notice alert in the wake of coronavirus that has already claimed 10 lives across the country. The Islamabad district administration had imposed partial lockdown in the capital city from March 25. In a notification, the district administration banned all kinds of public gatherings and ordered to shut markets, shopping malls, restaurants and private offices for an unidentified period.
The authority suspended public transport in the capital city whereas Metro service will be available from 8:30 am to 10:30 am and 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm daily. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday visited coronavirus isolation center in Islamabad, to inspect the arrangements. The isolation center consists of 50 bed facility for the coronavirus patients in the federal capital.
