509 medical professionals infected with COVID-19: PMA

LAHORE: Pakistan Medical Association President Dr Ashraf Nizami has said that 509 medical professionals have been infected with the COVID-19 across Pakistan.

While addressing a press conference in Lahore today, Dr Nizami said overall 273 doctors, 75 nurses and 161 health staff members became victim of coronavirus so far.

Highlighting the rising number of deaths he said 10 healths professionals lost their lives across country including 4 in Sindh, 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 2 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one each in Balochistan and Islamabad.

Dr Nizami further said 259 health professionals infected with the virus adopted self-isolation while 130 among them were admitted to hospitals due to unstable health condition, whereas, 120 medics have recovered from the disease.

He said that the situation can be brought under control only by having an extended lockdown in place.

He said that patients visiting hospitals are increasing in numbers day by day as the treatment of patients suffering from other diseases has stopped as well.

The government to make 1000-bed hospitals specifically for infectious diseases across the country, he urged.

Dr Nizami asked the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan to take note of the long queues outside the banks.

The confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan have surged past 22,200 as new cases were reported in several areas of Pakistan.

According to the provided details of the provincial health departments, almost 1197 new cases were reported across Pakistan, taking the national tally to 22,237. So far, the deadly virus has claimed lives of almost 514 people.