Confirmed COVID-19 cases’ tally soar to 543 across Pakistan

Sindh on Saturday reported 15 new Coronavirus cases taking the provincial tally to 267.

According to the Sindh Health Department, the new cases were reported in pilgrims from Taftan in Sukkur.

The number of confirmed cases overall in Pakistan now stands at 543.

A day earlier, Pakistan had recorded its third death from the coronavirus; the first in Sindh.

Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho had confirmed the death of a 77-year-old COVID-19 patient in the province.

The minister said the patient was a cancer survivor and had diabetes and hypertension when he contracted the virus.

She added that the patient did not have any travel or contact history, meaning they contracted the virus from the community.

Earlier this week, two patients from KP who tested positive for the coronavirus had died, officials said.

However, both had a travel history in countries that have been hit by the outbreak.

The patient from Sindh who passed away on Friday was the first death from local transmission of the virus.

Sindh remains the most affected province in the country, with 267, confirmed cases of the virus.

Punjab has 104, KP has 27, Balochistan 104, Islamabad 10, and GB has 30 confirmed cases.

Total confirmed cases: 519

1. Sindh: 267
2. Punjab: 104
3. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 27
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4. Balochistan: 104
5. Islamabad Capital Territory: 10
6. Gilgit-Baltistan: 30
7. AJK: 01

Deaths: 03

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 02

• Sindh: 01

Globally, 185 countries have been affected.

More than 10,000 people have died and more than 253,000 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories.

The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, especially Italy, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases and deaths.

Moreover, Sindh government has made a cut in salaries of its ministers, advisers, assistants and government employees in order to spend the funds for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

Following the sharp rise in COVID-19 pandemic cases across Sindh, the provincial government has deducted an overall amount of over Rs1.78 billion from the salaries of government employees and its ministers.

The officers from Grade-1 to Grade 22 also included in the salaries’ deduction.

According to the provincial government, the funds will utilize to treat coronavirus patients.