ISLAMABAD: Death toll by coronavirus epidemic jumps to 94 round the country as new fatalities were reported in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and the tally of confirmed COVID-19 infections reaches to 5,415 on Monday after new infections were confirmed from all over Pakistan.
Health authorities have confirmed infections are increasing rapidly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, nation-wide coronavirus tally shot up from 5,038 on Sunday morning to 5,415 on Monday morning.
The province-wise break up of coronavirus infections given by the National Health Authorities Coronavirus dashboard at 12:50pm, April 13, Monday, is as total number of confirmed infections was 5,415, with Punjab 2,594, Sindh 1,452, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 744, Gilgit-Baltistan 224, Balochistan 230, Islamabad Capital Territory 131 and AJK 40.
The province-wise break up of death toll given by the National Health Authorities Coronavirus dashboard at 12:50pm, April 13, Monday, total death toll was reported as 94, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 34, Sindh 31, Punjab 23, Gilgit- Baltistan 3, Balochistan 2 and Islamabad Capital Territory 1.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has asked the government to remove Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza from his post.
CJP Gulzar Ahmad issued the directives while hearing a suo motu notice regarding the coronavirus situation in the country. “We are not satisfied with the performance of Dr Zafar Mirza,” remarked the judge, adding that they will issue directives to remove him from the post.
Attorney general warned the court that it would be disastrous to remove Dr Mirza from the post. He also requested the court to leave the matter for the government to sort.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari directed party workers to take part in the countrywide relief efforts for those affect by the coronavirus. The PPP chairman also gave the responsibility to party secretary general Nayyar Bukhari to reach out to the party leaders and ticket holders across the country.
The Economic Coordination Committee approved to give an additional 200,000 tonne of wheat to the utility stores, announced the finance ministry. The decision was taken to ensure that wheat is sold at a lower price, said the ministry.
Punjab government on Monday restricted citizens to travel to or within province in a bid to curb the virus spread and has directed the officials to ensure that the people travelling should have a negative test results in order to leave or enter a district.
“Patients will be permitted to enter their provinces only after completing their quarantine period for 14 days”, the Punjab Home Department notified, adding that people travelling to other districts or within the province should abide by section 144 – which prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area.
The provincial ministry also said that ‘Form A and B’ would only be handed to patients who would test negative for the coronavirus and have completed their quarantine period.
World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday donated 15 testing machines and 15,000 testing kits to Pakistan to help the country in its fight against the virus, reported Radio Pakistan.
WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, while addressing the handover ceremony, said that the world body has provided this equipment to support Pakistan’s efforts in preventing spread of coronavirus.
NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal said that there was no lack of Personal Protection Equipment in the country as we have achieved the capacity to fulfill country’s needs through local resources.
“At present we are not importing a single piece of PPE, except N-95 masks and all we are buying from the local market,” said Lt Gen Afzal.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Jhagra announced that the provincial director of public health and part of the COVID-19 response team Dr Ikramullah has tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr Ikramullah for his service and wish him a full recovery so he is back to fight this fight for our province. He is an asset that we all are proud of,” tweeted the minister.
Read more: Death toll by COVID-19 jumps 86; while confirmed infections jumps to 5,077
