LIVE: Sindh reports nearly 3,000 cases in a day as nationwide Covid-19 tally jumps to 168,790

Virus has claimed at least 3,300 lives while around 61,383 patients have recovered

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 8.2 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world – and over 446,000 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 168,790 with 61,678 cases in Punjab, 65,163 in Sindh, 20,790 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 9,162 in Balochistan, 1,253 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 9,941 in Islamabad and 803 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The virus has claimed at least 3,300 lives while around 61,410 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.

1:30am: Covid-19 cases dip in last five straight days

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday observed that there had been a decline in coronavirus cases being reported detected in the country for the last five consecutive days after a steady rise for three weeks.

According to a statement issued by the NCOC, 103 more ventilators had been added to the national count, taking the total number to 1,503.

To meet the additional requirements of hospitals, the procurement of more ventilators was under way on a fast track basis and would be completed between the mid and the end of July. Over 1,500 ventilators will be added to the existing number.

More here



11:42pm: Two more Covid-19 deaths, 34 new cases in AJK

At least 34 more cases of coronavirus emerged in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours, taking the state’s tally to 803.

The virus has also claimed two more lives, bringing the total number of fatalities to 17 in the region.

According to health authorities, five patients have also recovered from the disease, pushing the total recoveries to 317.



10:52pm: Virus claims another three lives, infects 28 more people in G-B

The novel coronavirus has claimed another three lives and infected 27 more people in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), taking the total number of positive cases to 1,253.

According to health authorities, 22 patients have also recovered from the respiratory disease.

The region has 406 active Covid-19 cases while death toll jumped to 21 in the region so far, they added.

District wise distribution of COVID-19 cases in Gilgit-Baltistan #CombatCoronaVirus #CoronFreeGB #InshAllah #StayHomeStaySafe pic.twitter.com/PeJcnhVqz9

— Health Department Gilgit-Baltistan (@HealthDeptGB) June 19, 2020

10:38pm: Movement unabated in Karachi sealed areas

The local administration appears, by and large, to have failed to enforce the smart lockdown in areas identified as coronavirus hotspots in Karachi.

The lockdown was brought into place on Thursday evening, with the identified localities to be sealed for two weeks, but the very next day, shops remained open in most of these areas. While some police officials were witnessed asking for the identity cards of those entering and leaving the sealed areas and officials remained deployed at pickets besides patrolling coronavirus hotspots, few did anything to restrict the movement of citizens in many localities.

However, with reports of authorities failing to enforce the lockdown, a confrontation on the matter between citizens and police escalated to a clash in Lyari on Friday night.

Read more here



10:12pm: Balochistan reports one more death, 164 new cases of Covid-19

Health officials in Balochistan have confirmed one more fatality due to coronavirus in the past 24 hours to bring the provincial death toll to 100.

They also reported 164 new cases to raise the province’s tally to 9,162.

3,289 patients have recovered in the province so far.





10:08pm: Pakistan, Afghanistan to reopen key trade route on June 22

Pakistani and Afghan officials have agreed to reopen a key route for cross-border trade between the two neighbouring countries starting next Monday, aiming to give a major boost to bilateral trade as it will facilitate economic activities in both countries.

The government had closed the Ghulam Khan border in North Waziristan tribal district in June, 2014 after the military launched a major operation against local and foreign militants in the area, and conducted trial run for reopening the border crossing in March, 2018.

Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Atif Mashal confirmed to Xinhua Thursday evening that Islamabad had agreed to open the Ghulam Khan crossing point next Monday.

Story here



9:20pm: 16 more deaths, 608 new cases reported in K-P

608 new cases (23 Torkham) were reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, taking the provincial total to 20,790.

16 more deaths were reported – six in Peshawar, two in Nowshera, and one each in Swat, Karak, Malakand, Swabi, Dir Lower, Bannu, Charsadda and Mardan – to bring the total to 789.

Another 182 patients have recovered as total rises to 5,623 in the province.

608 new cases (23 Torkham) taking total to 20,790. 16 more lives were lost (6 Peshawar, 2 Nowshera, 1 each in Swat, Karak, Malakand, Swabi, Dir Lower, Bannu, Charsadda, Mardan) taking total to 789. 182 patients recovered taking total to 5,623. pic.twitter.com/w5sNHTp14V

— Health Department KP (@HealthKPGovt) June 19, 2020

9:10pm: Khyber assistant commissioner tests positive for coronavirus

Assistant Commissioner of Khyber District, Muhammad Imran has tested positive for Covid-19 and gone into self-quarantine at his residence. He went through the testing after experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, according to the Landi Kotal assistant commissioner.

Khyber AC Muhammad Imran. PHOTO: EXPRESS



8:55pm: Coronavirus recoveries climb to 37% in Pakistan

Pakistan recorded 37% recoveries of Covid-19 patients after more than 2,100 people were discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

According to the ministry’s daily report, recoveries increased by 2,161 to 61,383, while overall cases reached 165,062 with 4,944 new additions.

Pakistan has conducted over 1.01 million tests to date, the report said.

Read more here



7:10pm: Pakistan signs $1.5 billion loan agreement with IFIs to strengthen Covid-19 response

The government has signed financial agreements worth $1.5 billion with the three International Financial Institutions (IFIs) – World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – to strengthen its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Economic Affairs Secretary Noor Ahmed signed the three loan agreements with WB country director Patchamuthu Illangovan and ADB country director Xiaohong Yang on behalf of all three financial institutions, according to an official statement.

Read more here



6:50pm: Sindh's coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,000 mark

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah raised alarm on Friday on the worsening situation of the pandemic in the province, saying that the coronavirus had claimed 49 more lives overnight – the highest number of single-day deaths reported yet.

Following this, the number of deaths stemming from the contagion in Sindh has peaked to 1,013, he said, adding that another 2,894 Covid-19 cases emerged against 13,642 tests on the day.

Stating that these were the highest number of samples tested so far, as well as the highest one-day tally of Covid-19, the CM observed that the province’s total infection count had reached 65,163.

Read full story here



5:05pm: Sindh reports new cases

Provincial authorities in Sindh reported 2,894 new cases, taking the provincial count to 65,163. Authorities added that 49 more people succumbed to the virus.



4:25pm: NDMA chairman addresses media

#Live: Chairman @ndmapk Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal addressing a conference in Islamabad https://t.co/f2waqFVL2y

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) June 19, 2020

3:50pm: Covid-19 affecting treatment of other diseases, says WHO Pakistan Chief Dr Palitha Mahipala 

World Health Organisation (WHO) Pakistan Chief Dr Palitha Mahipala expressed concern that the coronavirus is affecting the treatment of other infectious diseases.

She discussed the impact of Covid-19 on Tuberculosis (TB) and how steps taken to curb the spread of the virus, the lockdown and travel restrictions affected TB patients and its diagnosis.

The number of TB patients coming to labs for testing on a monthly basis during February and April reduced from 802 to 323 in Lahore and from 1,005 to 683 in Faisalabad.

The secretary of the department said the lockdown has reduced the number of TB patients in hospitals

Dr Palitha Mahipala said the WHO will work with Pakistan to make the country TB free.

3:25pm: Punjab sees improvement in implementation of SOPs 

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the province has seen a significant improvement in the implementation of SOPs in the last 10 days, particularly the use of face masks.

The chief minister said in 127 areas of eight cities, where the spread of the virus is relatively high, a 'smart lockdown' has been implemented for the next two weeks.

He said in the next few days, 500 new HDU beds will be added to Punjab's healthcare system and work has started on the availability of 1,000 more HDU beds.

He appreciated the federal government for the supply of new intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators.

Buzdar maintained that the fight against Covid-19 has to be fought not only by the government and healthcare professionals, but by the entire nation.

پچھلے 10 دن میں SOPs خصوصاً ماسک پہننے کی شرط پر عملدرآمد میں کافی بہتری دیکھی گئی ہے جوکہ نہایت خوش آئند بات ہے

8 شہروں کے 127علاقوں میں، جہاں وائرس کا پھیلاؤ نسبتاً زیادہ ہے، دو ہفتوں کے لیے "سمارٹ لاک ڈاؤن" بھی کیاگیا ہے اور ہیلتھ سیکٹر کی Capacity Building بھی تیزی سےجاری ہے

— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) June 19, 2020

3:05pm: Welfare of healthcare workers govt's top priority, says Dr Zafar Mirza

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said the government’s top priority is the welfare of healthcare workers fighting on the frontline against the pandemic.

He said the government has established an integrated complaint management system to deal with complaints of medical workers.

They can register their complaints at 1166 or 00923001111166 and will be addressed on priority basis, he added.

The special assistant said a comprehensive package has been introduced for healthcare workers.

2:50pm: SAPM Dr Zafar Mirza addresses the media

Live: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services @zfrmrza briefing media in Islamabad https://t.co/mYsdhOMzlX

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) June 19, 2020

2:10pm: Pakistan, Iran border reopens for trade with strict implementation of SOPs

The border between Pakistan and Iran has been reopened for trade through Taftan in Pakistan and Mirjaveh from the Iranian side.

As per the directives of Federal Interior Minister Brigadier (R) Ijaz Shah, trade her been resumed with strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to mitigate the spread of the virus.

2:00pm: FM Qureshi urges int'l community to unite to fight pandemic 

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged the international community to demonstrate unity, solidarity and multilateral cooperation to fight the pandemic.

He was addressing a video conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation: Combating Covid-19 with Solidarity, hosted by China.

The foreign minister said besides the large number of deaths worldwide, the virus has led to an economic slowdown, bankruptcies, financial fissures, job losses and disruption in global-supply chains.

Pakistan is taking all possible measures to strengthen the existing healthcare system and fight the outbreak, he added.

Qureshi said Pakistan's priority is saving lives and livelihoods. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan introduced major initiatives including $8 billion relief package and the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme for those affected by the virus.

The foreign minister said the Covid-19 vaccine, whenever it is developed, must be declared a 'global public good' and made available on an equitable basis.

1:45pm: Punjab reports 1,540 new cases

Punjab health authorities reported 1,540 new cases, taking the provincial tally to 61,678.

63 more persons succumbed to the virus and Punjab's death toll stands at 1,265.

1:05pm: One dead, eight injured in grenade attack on Ehsaas programme centre in Karachi

At least one person died and eight others sustained injuries on Friday after an unidentified motorcyclist threw a grenade at the Ehsaas programme centre in Karachi's Liaquatabad area.

The grenade injured nine persons who were immediately rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and one succumbed to his injuries.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail took notice of the attack and ordered a detailed report from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Mahar.

12:35pm: 'Medical supplies, medicines disappeared from markets'

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said necessary medicines and medical supplies needed to treat Covid-19 have disappeared from the markets or are being sold for extremely high prices.

He said the citizens are suffering due to the administration, adding that there is no one that can stop the high prices of medicines.

کورونا وباءکے علاج کے لئے درکار ضروری ادویات اور طبی سامان بازار سے غائب ہوگیا ہے یا پھر سونے کے بھاو فروخت ہورہا ہے۔ انتظامیہ کے مفلوج ہونے سے عوام اذیت کا شکار ہیں۔ کوئی نہیں جو ادویات کی نایابی اور مہنگے داموں فروخت کو روکے۔

— Shehbaz Sharif (Stay at home to stay safe) (@CMShehbaz) June 19, 2020

12:10pm: K-P Assembly members who test positive for Covid-19 to be exempted from office

As per precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus, all members of the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) Assembly who test positive for Covid-19 will be exempted from office for the next 14 days.

11:40am: Former PM Raja Pervez demands return of stranded Pakistanis 

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said even before the virus, the condition of the economy was not good.

"In this budget, Rs70 billion has been allocated for the fight against the virus. What will you do with it?" he asked.

The former premier said thousands of Pakistanis are stranded in Gulf and European countries and demanded their return at the government's expense.

11:10am: YDA begin protests after doctors issued show-cause notices

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has started protests against the Polyclinic administration after three doctors were issued show-cause notices for raising their voices in the hospital.

The protesters demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the matter.

10:30am: 'PM Imran gave biggest relief package to 16m families' 

Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed said the premier gave the biggest relief package to 16 million families for the first time in the history of the country.

The minister responded to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and said after the 18th Amendment, health became a provincial matter. However, the federal government has continued to provide face masks, ventilators and other medical equipment.

He maintained that Rs5,500 billion were given to the Sindh government for the improvement of the health sector bu the provincial government failed to utilise it properly.

10:00am: Key pillars in Pakistan's response against Covid-19

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Malik Muhammad Safi from Pakistan's Ministry of Health elaborated key pillars in Pakistan's response against Covid-19: governance and financing, prevention, suppression and communication.

Pakistan has also been training healthcare workers, as well as increasing testing capacity.

Malik Muhammad Safi, from the #Pakistan Ministry of Health, elaborated key pillars in 🇵🇰's response: governance & financing, prevention, suppression & communication. The country has also been capacity building & training #healthworkers, as well as increasing testing capacity.

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 18, 2020

9:40am: CFR in Pakistan 1.93% against 5.37% worldwide

The National Command and Operation Centre's (NCOC) mortality analysis showed case fatality rate (CFR) in Pakistan 1.93 per cent against 5.37 per cent worldwide.

73 per cent of males, ranging from ages 1 to 102 years have succumbed to the virus. 74 per cent over the age of 50 years and 73 per cent had chronic conditions.

91 per cent of deceased remained hospitalised.

9:30am: Over 10,111 violations observed across Pakistan in 24-hour period

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) reported over 10,111 violations of health guidelines observed across the country in the last 24 hours.

More than 813 markets, 1,443 vehicles and five industries were fined or sealed for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government.

There were 744 violations in Sindh, 2,176 in Punjab,  5,326 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 908 in Balochistan, 741 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and 216 in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

9:25am: 'Public schools to be at par with private schools with introduction of STEM programme' 

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said the decision by all provinces to participate in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme will bring public schools at par with private ones.

In the first phase of the programme, 453 selected government schools from Grade 6 to matriculation will be converted into science schools and the scope of the programme will be extended to majority schools in five years.

تمام صوبوں اور اکائیوں کی طرف سے STEM سکول منصوبے میں حصہ دار بننے کا فیصلہ سرکاری سکولوں کو پرائیویٹ سسٹمز کے برابر لے آئے گا، پہلے مرحلے میں 453 چھٹی سے میٹرک تک کےمنتخب سرکاری اسکولوں کو سائنس سکول بنائیں گے اور پانچ سالوں میں پروگرام کا دائرہ کار اکثریتی سکولوں تک لے جائیں گے https://t.co/pPoG0S0N6q

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 19, 2020

9:00am: Nationwide tally stands at 165,062

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has reported the fifth consecutive day decline in positive cases in the country.

The centre reported 1,844 new cases and 136 deaths, taking the nationwide tally to 165,062. The death toll stands at 3,229.

61,383 patients have recovered from the deadly disease.



8:50am: 103 ventilators to be distributed across Pakistan 

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said 103 additional ventilators have been added to the national Covid-19 efforts across Pakistan, making the total number of ventilators in the country 1,503.

To meet additional requirements of hospitals, the procurement of ventilators will be complete between mid to end July.

An additional 2,150 oxygenated beds will be distributed to the provinces, with 500 each to Punjab and Sindh, 400 to K-P, 200 to Balochistan, 450 to Islamabad, 60 to AJK and 40 to G-B.

Testing capacity has increased by 65 folds and will be further increase to more than 100,000 tests per day by mid July.