The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus ‘COVID-19’ infections in Pakistan has risen to 20.
Gilgit-Baltistan has reported its second patient on Wednesday.
Karachi has the worst affected city so far, with 15 of the total confirmed cases.
Two cases had reported in Gilgit-Baltistan and one case has been reported each in Islamabad, Hyderabad and Quetta.
Furthermore, globally, the virus has killed more than 4,500 people and infected over 124,000.
Read on for Coronavirus latest updates below:
1. Saudi Arabia suspends flight operation from Pakistan, other countries
Saudi Arabia on Thursday temporarily suspended travel of citizens and residents and halted flights with several states including Pakistan, an official source said.
The decision includes the European Union, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia.
Source added that the Kingdom also suspended entry to those coming from these countries.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia also suspended passenger traffic through all land crossings with Jordan.
While, commercial and cargo traffic still allowed, and the passage of exceptional humanitarian cases.
The decision excludes health workers in the Kingdom from Philippines and India, and evacuation, shipping and trade trips taking necessary precautions.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has 45 confirmed coronavirus cases.
2. Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus
Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have both tested positive for coronavirus, the actor said in a public message.
Hanks, said he and Wilson came down with a fever while in Australia, where he was on a film shoot.
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 12, 2020
3. Trump suspends travel from Europe to US
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed a travel ban on Europe for 30 days to help curb the spread of a coronavirus pandemic.
“We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people,” Trump said in a televised address.
“This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2020
4. NBA suspends season after player tests positive
National Basketball Association (NBA) said on Wednesday it was suspending the season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus.
“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) said earlier on Wednesday that its wildly popular “March Madness” basketball tournament games would played in arenas without fans.
5. WHO says virus outbreak ‘can be characterized as a pandemic‘
The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
However, the organization said it has been assessing this outbreak around the clock.
The organization is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread, severity and inaction.
“We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic.”
"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction"-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
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