Punjab overtakes Sindh as nationwide tally crosses 1400

Pakistan: Punjab surpassed Sindh in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recording 490 cases compared to 440 in Sindh.

The total number of patients has now increased to 1408 after 35 new cases of coronavirus were reported across the country earlier today. The first case of coronavirus was reported in Pakistan on February 25.

There have been 11 deaths from this deadly virus in the country while 25 patients have successfully recovered from the virus. During the last 24 hours, another death reported due to the virus, taking the tally to 11 countrywide.

Punjab reports another death, nationwide toll increases to 11

Whereas, Sindh cases stand at 457, Balochistan has 131, KPK 180, Gilgit-Baltistan 91, Islamabad 27 and two cases reported in Azad Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah said that about 10% of reported cases in the province were locally-transmitted, adding that it was a “dangerous trend”. He emphasized that by taking the necessary precautions and implementing a lockdown, the spread of the virus can be stopped.

Lockdown is ongoing in the Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with enforcement of Section 144 in the district, as well as management officers monitoring the markets. Section 144 has also been enforced in North Waziristan, with police and district administration conducting awareness campaigns on the coronavirus through loudspeakers.

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Mardan has become the epicenter of coronavirus in KPK which has reported the highest number of cases at 79.

In the wake of a lockdown in Karachi, the main vegetable market in the metropolis revised its business hours, cutting the working hours by 12 hours. While, the wholesale market, which remains open for 24 hours, would be shut from 12 noon till 12 midnight. The Sindh government has decided to shut down shops till 5 pm, starting from today.

CM Punjab Usman Buzdar directed that all shops in the province, including grocery stores, would be closed from 8 pm to 8 am starting from Saturday. He ordered strict monitoring of the “coronavirus hotspots” and implementation of SOPs for “sensitive areas”.