LIVE: Sindh reports over 1,800 cases in a day to push nationwide tally to 83,292
Virus has claimed at least 1,730 lives while about 28,988 patients have recovered
Commuters wear face masks amid upsurge in Covid-19 cases in Karachi. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
X ISLAMABAD / KARACHI / PESHAWAR / LAHORE / QUETTA / MUZAFFARABAD:
The novel coronavirus emerged in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of last year and proliferated to almost the whole world within a couple of months. It’s not the virulence or fatality, but the infectivity of the new virus – also known as SARS-CoV-2 – that has set off a global frenzy.
The Covid-19 respiratory illness caused by this mysterious contagion has so far infected more than 6.2 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world – and over 376,000 of them have died and counting.
Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained coronavirus-free until February 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive after returning from Iran – one of the worst-hit countries. After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus.
Nearly one and a half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to ease the lockdown in phases.
The nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 83,292 with 29,489 cases in Punjab, 32,910 in Sindh, 11,373 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4,740 in Balochistan, 824 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 3,188 in Islamabad and 284 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The virus has claimed at least 1,730 lives while about 28,988 coronavirus patients have recovered.
The situation remains fluid and we’re updating stats as soon as new figures are officially released.
Follow The Express Tribune’s live coverage of the pandemic here.
1:22am: Covid-19 claims another cop's life in Karachi
Coronavirus claimed the life of another police official on Wednesday, while 20 more police officials - including the Korangi SSP - have tested positive for the contagious disease.
The deceased policeman, head constable Hassan Raza, was serving at a wireless operator at Gulberg Citizens Police Liasion Committee at the West DIG's office. According to his son, he experienced a high fever on May 27, following which he was tested for the virus and was confirmed as having it.
He further shared that his father had initially been isolated at his residence, but when his health deteriorated, he was first shifted to Dow University of Health and Sciences Ojha Campus and then to Ziauddin Hospital due to the lack of availability of hospital beds. He passed away during treatment.
As many as eight police officials have died as a result of the contagion in the province, while 425 have tested positive for the virus to date.
Meanwhile, 20 police officials, including Korangi SSP Faisal Abdullah Chachar tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
According to sources, SSP Chachar had been working at the site of the plane crash in Jinnah Garden and had possibly contracted the virus there due to the large number of people present at the location.
All the affected police personnel have been isolated at their residences.
12:48am: Panicked family abandons Covid-19 victim’s body
Police arranged the burial of a Covid-19 victim in Ferozwala after his family left his body unattended at their home, demonstrating how the precautionary measure of maintaining a safe distance is manifesting itself into a discriminatory attitude towards the patients.
The deceased was a resident of Sabir Town, Wandala Diyal Shah.
SHO Amir Mehboob said the police were informed that a man had died in the locality and the family members were leaving the house. The police reached the spot and found that a large number of people had gathered in the street and the house was locked from inside.
Read more here
12:42am: 46 new Covid-19 cases bring G-B tally to 824
At least 46 more coronavirus cases have emerged in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), taking the region's tally to 824.
According to health authorities, 532 patients have also recovered from the respiratory disease so far in the region.
12:05am: Balochistan reports two more deaths, 371 new Covid-19 cases
At least 371 new Covid-19 cases reported in Balochistan, taking the provincial tally to 5,224.
According to provincial health department spokesperson Dr Wasim Baig, 2,021 patients have recovered from the deadly disease so far.
He further said that two more patients have succumbed to coronavirus, bringing the total fatalities in the province to 51.
10:12pm: 13 more cases take AJK Covid-19 tally to 284
At least 13 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in past 48 hours, taking the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s tally to 284.
According to health authorities, 170 patients of coronavirus have also recovered and discharged from various hospitals while seven people have died due to Covid-19 in the state so far.
8:46pm: K-P records 10 deaths, 476 new coronavirus cases
At 476 new cases have reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), taking the provincial tally to 11,373.
According to K-P health department, the virus has claimed 10 more lives while 65 patients have removed from the respiratory disease.
5:40pm: Information minister urges masses to strictly follow Covid-19 SOPs
Information Minister Shibli Faraz has appealed to the masses to strictly follow SOPs in the face of rising cases of coronavirus otherwise the government would feel compelled enforce a stricter lockdown again.
He was addressing a news conference along with Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib in Islamabad.
Shibli regretted that people did not follow the precautionary measures in the wake of easing of restrictions. He said the restrictions were eased to provide livelihood opportunties to the weaker segments of the society.
The government, he said, is pursuing a very well organised and coordinated strategy to curb the spread of the contagion. “This is the reason corona cases are less than our estimates.”
[/fbvideo]
4.35pm: PMN-L lawmaker Shaukat Cheema passes away due to coronavirus
Member of Punjab Assembly Shaukat Manzoor Cheema succumbed to the coronavirus on Wednesday, after a month long battle with the deadly virus.
He had been on the ventilator for the past 10 days and was admitted at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) in Lahore.
The 66-year-old MPA hailed from Gurjanwala and was elected on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ticket in the 2018 general elections.
Story here
4:15pm: PTI lawmaker Mian Jamshed Uddin Kakakhel succumbs to coronavirus
Member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ( K-P) Assembly Mian Jamshed Uddin Kakakhel passed away on Wednesday after contracting the novel coronavirus. He was 65.
Kakakhel was earlier shifted to a hospital in Islamabad after his test for the pathogen came positive.
The MPA was elected from the constituency of PK-63 Nowshera on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket in the 2018 general elections.
Read story here
3:45pm: Fawad stresses need for conducting virtual session of the Parliament
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has stressed the need for conducting virtual session of the Parliament instead of direct, considering the risks of spreading coronavirus among more members.
In a statement, he said, in a week, coronavirus took the lives of four members of the assembly, including a provincial minister and18 members of the assembly infected with coronavirus are still fighting for their lives.
3:30pm: Public transporters flout SOPs as services resume in Karachi
After weeks of deliberations, public transport services in Karachi were allowed to be restored on Wednesday.
However, neither the transporters nor the commuters were found to be following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the provincial government.
Read story here
3:10pm: UN urges to refrain from spreading false information
❌ Don't share rumors
✔️ Choose content verified by reliable sources
2:40pm: More than 20,000 Pakistani nationals to be repatriated through 79 domestic, international flights
By June 10, more than 20,000 Pakistani nationals will be repatriated through 79 domestic and international flights.
13,000 Pakistanis will be repatriated through 52 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights.
6,750 Pakistanis will return home through 27 flights of other foreign airlines, 4,500 through 16 flights from Saudi Arabia and 8,000 Pakistanis from 34 flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In addition, at least 3,000 Pakistanis will return from Qatar.
Flights will also operate from China, England, Canada, United States and Malaysia.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reported 1,824 new cases and 29 new deaths in the province.
Out of the 1,824 new cases, 1,284 cases emerged from Karachi.
The chief minister said the province's death toll stands at 555 and the recoveries at 16,022.
In the past 24 hours, 487 patients have recovered, he added.
Punjab health authorities reported 1,639 new cases, taking the provincial tally to 29,489.
The province reported 30 more deaths, raising the provincial death toll to 570.
DIG Establishment Muhammad Ashfaq Khan has tested positive for Covid-19. After receiving his result, he placed himself in quarantine.
K-P Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra said Pakistan has still not solved the challenge of following standard operating procedures (SOPs) in markets and while using public transport amid the outbreak.
He said this is something that the government will be pursuing more aggressively.
The novel coronavirus emerged in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of last year and proliferated to almost the whole world within a couple of months. It’s not the virulence or fatality, but the infectivity of the new virus – also known as SARS-CoV-2 – that has set off a global frenzy.
The Covid-19 respiratory illness caused by this mysterious contagion has so far infected more than 6.2 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world – and over 376,000 of them have died and counting.
Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained coronavirus-free until February 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive after returning from Iran – one of the worst-hit countries. After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus.
Nearly one and a half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to ease the lockdown in phases.
The nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 83,292 with 29,489 cases in Punjab, 32,910 in Sindh, 11,373 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4,740 in Balochistan, 824 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 3,188 in Islamabad and 284 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The virus has claimed at least 1,730 lives while about 28,988 coronavirus patients have recovered.
The situation remains fluid and we’re updating stats as soon as new figures are officially released.
Follow The Express Tribune’s live coverage of the pandemic here.
1:22am: Covid-19 claims another cop's life in Karachi
Coronavirus claimed the life of another police official on Wednesday, while 20 more police officials - including the Korangi SSP - have tested positive for the contagious disease.
The deceased policeman, head constable Hassan Raza, was serving at a wireless operator at Gulberg Citizens Police Liasion Committee at the West DIG's office. According to his son, he experienced a high fever on May 27, following which he was tested for the virus and was confirmed as having it.
He further shared that his father had initially been isolated at his residence, but when his health deteriorated, he was first shifted to Dow University of Health and Sciences Ojha Campus and then to Ziauddin Hospital due to the lack of availability of hospital beds. He passed away during treatment.
As many as eight police officials have died as a result of the contagion in the province, while 425 have tested positive for the virus to date.
Meanwhile, 20 police officials, including Korangi SSP Faisal Abdullah Chachar tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
According to sources, SSP Chachar had been working at the site of the plane crash in Jinnah Garden and had possibly contracted the virus there due to the large number of people present at the location.
All the affected police personnel have been isolated at their residences.
12:48am: Panicked family abandons Covid-19 victim’s body
Police arranged the burial of a Covid-19 victim in Ferozwala after his family left his body unattended at their home, demonstrating how the precautionary measure of maintaining a safe distance is manifesting itself into a discriminatory attitude towards the patients.
The deceased was a resident of Sabir Town, Wandala Diyal Shah.
SHO Amir Mehboob said the police were informed that a man had died in the locality and the family members were leaving the house. The police reached the spot and found that a large number of people had gathered in the street and the house was locked from inside.
Read more here
12:42am: 46 new Covid-19 cases bring G-B tally to 824
At least 46 more coronavirus cases have emerged in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), taking the region's tally to 824.
According to health authorities, 532 patients have also recovered from the respiratory disease so far in the region.
12:05am: Balochistan reports two more deaths, 371 new Covid-19 cases
At least 371 new Covid-19 cases reported in Balochistan, taking the provincial tally to 5,224.
According to provincial health department spokesperson Dr Wasim Baig, 2,021 patients have recovered from the deadly disease so far.
He further said that two more patients have succumbed to coronavirus, bringing the total fatalities in the province to 51.
10:12pm: 13 more cases take AJK Covid-19 tally to 284
At least 13 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in past 48 hours, taking the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s tally to 284.
According to health authorities, 170 patients of coronavirus have also recovered and discharged from various hospitals while seven people have died due to Covid-19 in the state so far.
8:46pm: K-P records 10 deaths, 476 new coronavirus cases
At 476 new cases have reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), taking the provincial tally to 11,373.
According to K-P health department, the virus has claimed 10 more lives while 65 patients have removed from the respiratory disease.
5:40pm: Information minister urges masses to strictly follow Covid-19 SOPs
Information Minister Shibli Faraz has appealed to the masses to strictly follow SOPs in the face of rising cases of coronavirus otherwise the government would feel compelled enforce a stricter lockdown again.
He was addressing a news conference along with Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib in Islamabad.
Shibli regretted that people did not follow the precautionary measures in the wake of easing of restrictions. He said the restrictions were eased to provide livelihood opportunties to the weaker segments of the society.
The government, he said, is pursuing a very well organised and coordinated strategy to curb the spread of the contagion. “This is the reason corona cases are less than our estimates.”
[/fbvideo]
4.35pm: PMN-L lawmaker Shaukat Cheema passes away due to coronavirus
Member of Punjab Assembly Shaukat Manzoor Cheema succumbed to the coronavirus on Wednesday, after a month long battle with the deadly virus.
He had been on the ventilator for the past 10 days and was admitted at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) in Lahore.
The 66-year-old MPA hailed from Gurjanwala and was elected on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ticket in the 2018 general elections.
Story here
4:15pm: PTI lawmaker Mian Jamshed Uddin Kakakhel succumbs to coronavirus
Member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ( K-P) Assembly Mian Jamshed Uddin Kakakhel passed away on Wednesday after contracting the novel coronavirus. He was 65.
Kakakhel was earlier shifted to a hospital in Islamabad after his test for the pathogen came positive.
The MPA was elected from the constituency of PK-63 Nowshera on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket in the 2018 general elections.
Read story here
3:45pm: Fawad stresses need for conducting virtual session of the Parliament
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has stressed the need for conducting virtual session of the Parliament instead of direct, considering the risks of spreading coronavirus among more members.
In a statement, he said, in a week, coronavirus took the lives of four members of the assembly, including a provincial minister and18 members of the assembly infected with coronavirus are still fighting for their lives.
3:30pm: Public transporters flout SOPs as services resume in Karachi
After weeks of deliberations, public transport services in Karachi were allowed to be restored on Wednesday.
However, neither the transporters nor the commuters were found to be following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the provincial government.
Read story here
3:10pm: UN urges to refrain from spreading false information
❌ Don't share rumors
✔️ Choose content verified by reliable sources
2:40pm: More than 20,000 Pakistani nationals to be repatriated through 79 domestic, international flights
By June 10, more than 20,000 Pakistani nationals will be repatriated through 79 domestic and international flights.
13,000 Pakistanis will be repatriated through 52 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights.
6,750 Pakistanis will return home through 27 flights of other foreign airlines, 4,500 through 16 flights from Saudi Arabia and 8,000 Pakistanis from 34 flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In addition, at least 3,000 Pakistanis will return from Qatar.
Flights will also operate from China, England, Canada, United States and Malaysia.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reported 1,824 new cases and 29 new deaths in the province.
Out of the 1,824 new cases, 1,284 cases emerged from Karachi.
The chief minister said the province's death toll stands at 555 and the recoveries at 16,022.
In the past 24 hours, 487 patients have recovered, he added.
Punjab health authorities reported 1,639 new cases, taking the provincial tally to 29,489.
The province reported 30 more deaths, raising the provincial death toll to 570.
DIG Establishment Muhammad Ashfaq Khan has tested positive for Covid-19. After receiving his result, he placed himself in quarantine.
K-P Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra said Pakistan has still not solved the challenge of following standard operating procedures (SOPs) in markets and while using public transport amid the outbreak.
He said this is something that the government will be pursuing more aggressively.
Pakistan is opening up, as is the world; the Corona Virus is here to stay.
Much we can do better though. Specifically, we've not yet solved the challenge of SOPs being followed, whether transport or bazaars.
This is now something that we will be pursuing much more aggressively.
A survey has found that less than 40 per cent of people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) are wearing face masks.
Only 30 shopkeepers, 25 buyers, 30 using public transport and 30 in mosques in Peshawar are using masks.
In Mardan, 50 per cent of shopkeepers, 30 per cent using public transport and 40 per cent in mosques are using face masks.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said public cooperation is essential for the success of government efforts to combat Covid-19.
The chief minister urged shopkeepers to apply the "no mask, no service" policy, forcing people to use face masks and sanitisers in order to enter the shop.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Dr Mooed Yusuf said the government has been able to increase the number of inbound passengers by expediting the testing process.
In a series of tweets, the special assistant said the government plans to repatriate 20,000 stranded Pakistanis by June 10.
He said passengers will be tested on arrival and will be sent home for self-isolation instead of waiting for test results, adding that the passenger will be added to the Track and Trace system which will allow the provincial government to follow up.
Member of Sindh Assembly Saleem Baloch has contracted the virus.
After his results returned positive, he self-quarantined.
13 members of the Sindh Assembly have been infected with the deadly disease. Three members have recovered and one is undergoing treatment.
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said the provincial government is making efforts to ensure the availability of ventilators and other facilities in all hospitals of the province.
The spokesperson said plasma therapy of coronavirus patients will be part of the three-year programme by the Balochistan Health Department, in order to combat the deadly disease.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anti-Vehicle Staff Kashif Dogar has tested positive for Covid-19.
He has been placed in quarantine.
So far, 674 officials of the Punjab Police have contracted the virus.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government has set up more coronavirus testing laboratories in the country, in order to carry out 30,000 tests per day.
The minister maintained that the federal government has significantly increased its testing capacity.
He said more than 100 testing labs have been established in the country.
After Pakistan reported 4,131 new cases in the last 24 hours, the nationwide tally jumped to 80,463.
In the last 24 hours, 67 deaths have been reported, taking the country's death toll to 1,688.
28,923 patients have so far recovered from the virus.
Member of K-P Assembly Mian Jamshed Uddin Kakakhel has passed away after contracting the deadly disease.
Earlier this week, he was shifted to a private hospital in Islamabad after his Covid-19 symptoms worsened.
The MPA was elected from the constituency of PK-63 Nowshera on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket in the 2018 general elections.
Read story here
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has approved health risk allowance for doctors on the frontline fighting against the contagion.
The allowance will be given to health professionals performing duties at health institutions, laboratories and house job offices, said the spokesperson of the chief minister's house.
A notification has been issued and the allowance will be applicable from March 2020.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza shared a picture on microblogging website Twitter and reiterated that face masks are mandatory in public.
The picture said masks must be worn in shopping malls, mosques and while using public transport.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has asked provincial chief secretaries to present an implementation plan for decisions made by the province's chief ministers at the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting.
The meeting in Islamabad reviewed the way forward for NCC decisions, the opening of the tourism industry and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The minister warned that markets, public transport and industrial units are high-risk areas and SOPs should be adhered to.
Federal Minister for Interior Brig (R) Ejaz Ahmed Shah said the punishment should be clear if SOPs are violated by the public.