Pakistan confirms 50 more coronavirus cases, brings toll to 94

KARACHI: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan jumped to 94 on Monday after more people were diagnosed with the disease across the country.

As per details, 76 patients were from Sindh, ten from Balochistan, four from Islamabad, three from Gilgit-Baltistan and one person in Lahore.

Senator Murtaza Wahab who is also the spokesperson on Sindh Government confirmed in his tweet: “More results have come in. So far 50 people who had arrived in Sukkur from Taftaan have tested positive, 25 at Karachi & 1 at Hyderabad. So the total patients have reached 76 in Sindh. Out of these 76 patients, 2 have recovered & the remaining 74 are being kept in isolation.”

More results have come in. So far 50 people who had arrived in Sukkur from Taftaan have tested positive, 25 at Karachi & 1 at Hyderabad. So the total patients have reached 76 in Sindh. Out of these 76 patients, 2 have recovered & the remaining 74 are being kept in isolation

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) March 16, 2020

Earlier, confirming the number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has risen to 53 Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza confirmed on Monday said that there was no need to lock down cities due to coronavirus outbreak.

While talking to a private news channel on Monday Mirza said authorities have made inclusive arrangements across the country to thwart coronavirus outbreak.

He said that the hospitals in different cities of the country have been equipped with coronavirus testing and prevention kits and the cases being reported from Sindh province are being examined and treated carefully.

The first case of coronavirus in Punjab had been reported in the provincial capital – Lahore. Minister for Health Punjab Yasmin Rashid had confirmed the news and said that the patient is a 54-year-old man and was admitted to Mayo Hospital after developing symptoms.

She further said that the patient has also a travel history and has returned to Pakistan from the United Kingdom on March 10. He was cleared in the medical screening conducted at the airport.

Minister for Health also said that all contacts of the patient have tested negative for the coronavirus but will be kept in isolation for 15 days.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government had imposed section 144 across the province amid apprehensions about novel coronavirus. The decision came in a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Secretary today (Sunday) after the first case of coronavirus was reported in Lahore.

The session also decided to cancel training at all police training centers across the province. The meeting also decided to ban wedding functions, educational, religious and political gatherings under section 144.

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