STAFF REPORTERS
ISLAMABAD Pakistan on Wednesday reported 117 total deaths from novel coronavirus while the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases surged to 6,297. According to details, 3,016 patients have been tested positive for the epidemic in Punjab till now, 1,668 in Sindh, 912 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 281 in Balochistan, 234 in GilgitBaltistan, 140 in Islamabad and 46 in Azad Kashmir. So far, 1,446 patients have recovered in the country while 46 are in critical condition. At least 1,446 coronavirus patients have recovered. The number of cases has continued to soar despite the country being under lockdown for the third consecutive week. After health authorities in Punjab reported 71 new cases, the province’s tally stands at 3,016 including 701 pilgrims, 1,091 people associated with Raiwind Tableeghi Ijtima, 91 prisoners and 1,133 others tested positive for the virus. Punjab health department reported that 59 inmates in Lahore, 14 in Sialkot, nine in Dera Ghazi Khan, seven in Gujranwala and two in Bhakkar have tested positive for the virus. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has confirmed 38 new cases of coronavirus in the province – 28 in Quetta and 10 in Naseerabad. This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases to 281 in the province. While requesting people to take precautionary measures against the contagious disease, the chief minister wrote on his Twitter handle: “People please wear masks, keep social distancing and avoid unnecessary movements.”Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said 45 patients in the province are in critical condition. Announcing strict measures for the two-week lockdown, the minister said there will be a ban on pillion riding. “Only a man with a female can travel on a bike, any other pillion riding will be banned,” he said. Murad said the lockdown will continue to be strictly implemented after 5pm. One more patient of coronavirus succumbed to the deadly virus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the death toll to 39. The deceased, who breathed his last at a Peshawar hospital, belonged to Mohmand district’s Helimzai tehsil.
