Daily Times

Pakistan on Wednesday reported a record 2,300 new coronavirus cases in a single day as nationwide tally of patients jumped to 35,303, with 13,230 cases reported in Punjab, 13,341 in Sindh, 5,252 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2,158 in Balochistan, 475 in Gilgit Baltistan, 759 in Islamabad and 89 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The virus has claimed at least 761 lives while some 8,812 coronavirus patients have recovered so far.

The Punjab health department on Wednesday reported 1,362 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest daily increase of any province since the outbreak occurred. The new cases take Punjab’s tally to 13,230. Three more deaths were confirmed, with the provincial death toll from the virus rising to 214.

The emergence of 731 more coronavirus cases and 16 infection-related deaths in Sindh on Wednesday coincided with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s statement about an upsurge in coronavirus cases in May, as projected by health experts. Keeping in view the numbers of cases and deaths reported as of Wednesday, the chief minister observed that the province’s virus tally has climbed to 13,341 and its death toll has reached 234. However, he expressed optimism at the relatively low coronavirus death ratio of the province. Elaborating further on the death toll, he said that 4.6 per cent of the victims were between 51 and 60 years of age, 8.5 per cent between 61 and 70 years, 11.5 per cent between 71 and 80 years and 22.5 per cent were 81 years of age or older. He further stated that of the 731 new cases, 585 were reported from Karachi. And among these, 140 belonged to East district, 127 to South district, 116 to Malir, 85 to Central district, 60 to West district and 57 to Korangi, he added.

Besides, he said, 24 cases have surfaced in Larkana, 22 in Hyderabad, 14 in Ghotki, 10 in Sukkur, eight in Kandhkot-Kashmore, seven in Shikarpur, five in Shaheed Benazirabad, four each in Sujawal and Tando Muhammad Khan, two each in Jacobabad and Naushero Feroze and one each in Umerkot, Khairpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Jamshoro. He said that among the total infected persons, 76 per cent are male and 24 per cent female.

Speaking of the recovery ratio, he said, so far, 2,835 (21.3 per cent) patients have recovered, with 606 being sent home on Wednesday. According to the data shared by him, 10,272 patients are under treatment in the province at present, among whom 8,840 are isolated at homes, 919 at isolation centres and 513 at hospitals.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department confirmed eight more casualties – four in Peshawar, two in Nowshera, and one each in Khyber and Dir Lower – due to coronavirus in the province to raise its death toll to 275 on Wednesday. At least 231 new cases were also reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total confirmed cases to 5,252 in the province. Moreover, 87 more patients recuperated from the disease to raise the total number of recoveries to 1,392 in the province. Number of active cases stands at 3,585.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has reported its first death from the novel coronavirus, according to the government’s Covid-19 portal. AJK so far has 89 confirmed cases of the virus, less than any other region in the country. A provincial lawmaker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Mangla Sharma, tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. Sharma said in a statement that she and her husband underwent Covid-19 tests after emergence of symptoms. She said they have gone into isolation at their own residence after testing positive for the virus. Earlier in the day, two senators also tested positive for coronavirus after they underwent the test on Tuesday. According to reports, the members of Upper House of Parliament who tested positive are Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Atta ur Rehman and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Senator Fida Muhammad. The Senate Secretariat has barred the lawmakers from attending the session. The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Wednesday issued standard operating procedures for gyms and health clubs, barbershops, and hair and beauty salons after the easing of the coronavirus lockdown. The Interior Ministry has, meanwhile, issued SOPs to all provinces and AJK and GB for the last 10 days of Ramazan and Eid holidays. According to the notification, 20-point SOPs for Taraweeh prayers will remain in place for the last 10 days of Ramazan and for Eid prayers. It also barred all religious processions in connection with Youm-e-Ali (AS) across the country.