-Out of overall count of 17,700, Sindh makes up a quarter of all reported cases
-Karachi reports record single-day cases
-Total recoveries stagnated at 4,300
-18 more health workers infected with virus
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: The coronavirus count reached 17,700 in Pakistan as 794 more cases were reported within 24 hours in the country, according to the latest statistics released by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday.
According to the national dashboard, the death toll of coronavirus infected individuals has increased to 406 while 4,315 patients recovered from the virus and 153 are still critical.
12,733 patients are still under treatment in the hospitals and quarantine facilities in country.
The country has conducted 1,82,131 coronavirus tests including 7,971 tests in last 24 hours.
Nearly 3.3 million people worldwide – including more than 1 million people in the United States – have been infected with the coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise.
The global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 230,000 yesterday.
A total of 230,309 deaths have been registered from 3,218,415 cases, the tally showed. Europe is the worst hit continent with 137,714 deaths, while the United States has registered the most for one country with 61,717.
Almost 90%of the fatalities from a pandemic which first appeared in China in December have occurred in Europe and the United States.
The National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has tested positive for coronavirus and self-isolated himself at his residence.
Another high-profile personality found infected with coronavirus in Pakistan after Sindh Governor Imran Ismail as the NA Speaker Asad Qaiser confirmed that he is tested positive for the virus.
In his Twitter message, Asad Qaiser said that he has quarantined himself inside his home. He appealed the nationals to adopt precautionary measures against coronavirus and pray for his health.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Friday that 662 more cases were reported in the province on the day, raising the virus tally to 6,675, while six people succumbed to Covid-19 as the death toll climbed to 118. In a video statement, the CM said that the 662 persons found infected also included 190 passengers among 438 who had arrived from Dubai, Sharjah and Colombo. Among them, he said, 92 passengers belonged to Sindh, 56 to Punjab, 24 to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 18 to Balochistan.
“If we don’t consider these 190 cases, the number reported on the day reduces to 472, showing that the pandemic is still playing havoc in Sindh,” he said, urging citizens to strictly observe social distancing and pandemic guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation. Speaking with regards to the geographical incidence of the virus, the CM said that the highest number of cases among 662 newly-reported ones belonged to Karachi, numbering 446. Of these, 173 were detected in Malir, 92 in east district, 70 in South district, 56 in Central district, 33 in West district and 22 in Korangi, he said. The metropolis has had 4,873 cases reported so far.
Elsewhere in Sindh, 17 cases were reported from Ghotki, 19 from Hyderabad, 11 from Jacobabad, 23 from Larkana, 15 from Shikarpur and six from Sukkur, the CM added.
Expressing worry over the rise in the incidence of the coronavirus, he said, “The virus is spreading day by day and therefore, extra precautionary measures must be adopted across Sindh.”
He also lauded health workers, including doctors, paramedics and technicians, for working “selflessly,” pointing out that as many as 485 Covid-19 patients were under treatment at different hospitals in the province, in addition to 733 accommodated at isolation centres. Besides, 4,044 are isolated at their homes, he said. The CM also shared that among the patients undergoing treatment, 45 were critically ill, including 16 on ventilator.
As many as 1,921 patients in Punjab have recovered from the coronavirus, so far, said provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Friday. Dr Yasmin Rashid in her statement showed her happiness over speedy recovery of the coronavirus patients and said 114 patients recovered their health in last two days. The minister said that the provincial government is utilizing all the resources to curtail the outbreak of the pandemic.
She urged the people to fight the COVID-19 by adopting precautionary measures and the SOPs designed by the government. Dr Yasmin Rashid urged the people to stay at homes and exercise social distancing.
It may be noted that the coronavirus count reached 16,817 in Pakistan, according to the latest statistics released by National Command and Operation Centre.
According to the national dashboard, 24 deaths were reported during last 24 hours, taking the tally to 385 while 4,315 patients recovered from the virus and 153 are still critical. 12,117 patients are still under treatment in the hospitals and quarantine facilities in country. The country has conducted overall 1,82,031 coronavirus tests including 7,971, in last 24 hours.
Eighteen more healthcare providers on the frontline of the fight against the novel coronavirus have been infected with the infection in the country during the previous 24 hours, according to National Command and Control Centre’s report.
Those diagnosed with the deadly virus included 15 doctors, one nurse and two paramedics. Of the total, eight doctors tested positive for the infection in Balochistan, while seven doctors and two health workers have been affected by the disease in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. No healthcare provider was diagnosed as positive in Sindh and Punjab during this period.
The report said a doctor died from the infection in KP during the last 24 hours. The total number of health care providers who have been affected by the disease thus far stands at 462, including 231 doctors, 68 nurses and 173 health workers.
