The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients now stands at 8,310, with 3,721 cases in Punjab, 2,544 in Sindh, 1,137 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 432 in Balochistan, 257 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 171 in Islamabad, and 49 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir so far. The virus has claimed 168 lives in the country so far, while at least 1,868 coronavirus patients have recovered. The number of cases continues to soar despite the country being under lockdown for the third consecutive week. Sindh recorded eight COVID-19 deaths over the past 24 hours, which is the highest number of fatalities from the contagion in the province so far, according to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. In a video statement, Shah said this is the highest number of virus-related deaths in 24 hours since the first casualty was reported in the province on March 19, taking the number of people who have dead from the disease to 56. The chief minister said 182 new cases of the contagion surfaced during this period, including eight fatalities. He added a total of 1,520 tests were conducted. He said 176 people who returned home from Oman were tested for COVID-19, out of whom 170 tested negative for the infection, while reports of the rest were awaited. There are 1,043 patients in home isolation, while 492 in isolation centre across the province, he added. The chief minister said 299 patients were under treatment at various hospitals. Meanwhile, at least 10 more patients died of COVID-19 infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) bringing the total death toll to 60, the provincial information adviser said on Sunday. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Khan Wazir confirmed that 62 new infections were reported in the province during the last 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 1137. Responding to a question, Ajmal Wazir said that the government was taking steps to bring back stranded Pakistanis in Afghanistan. “KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan is himself monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the province,” he said, adding that all facilities are available at quarantine centres for corona patients. Ajmal Wazir called for unity among all political parties in order to defeat this deadly coronavirus. Also, Balochistan reported 56 new coronavirus cases, taking the provincial total to 432, provincial government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani confirmed. On the other hand, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said on Sunday that 29 more COVID-19 patients have recovered from Mayo Hospital and PKLI Centre in Lahore. The minister said a total of 206 patients from different Lahore hospitals have returned to their homes so far. Overall in Punjab, about 680 patients have recovered from COVID-19 from different hospitals. She said the return of patients to their homes in good numbers is an encouraging development. The minister said, “So far we have conducted over 54,000 tests in Punjab. I request all people to support government efforts by complying with the lockdown and staying indoors.”