GILGIT: Pakistanis across spectrum paid glowing tributes to the young doctor Dr Usama Riaz, who breathed his last while serving suspected Coronavirus patients in Gilgit Baltistan region.
The young hero was buried in his native town with official honour later in the afternoon. By Monday evening there number of COVID active cases were 884, while 13 patients have recovered .
The death toll from COVID-19 in Pakistan rose to six after the country reported its first death from Balochistan and first from Gilgit Baltistan.
Balochistan government’s spokesperson, Liaquat Shahwani confirmed the province’s first death from the virus on Sunday in a tweet.
The deceased was a 65-year-old man, under treatment at the Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital, according to Shahwani.
A statement issued by Gilgit-Baltistan Information Department stated with great grief that Dr. Usama Riaz Jam, who played a leading role in Gilgit-Baltistan’s fight against coronavirus, has passed away. The martyr will be given status of a national hero.
Besides Dr Usman, a couple of more doctors have also shown symptoms, officials said.
“We request the government to immediately provide us personal protection equipment,” Dr Asfandyar Khan, of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, told media.
“It is like suicide to treat patients without protection,” he said, adding: “If infection spreads in hospitals, believe me no person will be ready to touch any patient.”
He threatened doctors would stop work if they and other healthcare staff aren’t given necessary equipment by Monday.
Spokesperson of Balochistan government has confirmed first death of the province. 65-year-old Muhammad Ali, who was resident of Alamdar Road, was receiving treatment at Sheikh Zaid Hospital from four days.
Gilgit-Baltistan government has also imposed lock-down in the province from 12:00am tonight in wake of the spread of coronavirus pandemic as provincial tally rises to 71.
Addressing a press conference in Chitral on Sunday, Gilgit-Baltistan Law Minister Aurangzeb Khan said that the province will be locked down from midnight (tonight) for an indefinite period.
Balochistan government has written a letter for giving civil authority to the army under Article 245 in order to curb the spread of the virus.
On the other hand, the Sindh government has requested the federation to send army soldiers for the help of civil administration under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in imposing lock-down.
Punjab the largest province of the country has also decided a complete lockdown from Tuesday morning.
Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) has also decided to contact Pakistan Army for assistance and vowed to use all the resources for saving the lives of people from coronavirus.
Read more: Pakistan records fourth COVOD-19 death, nationwide tally of confirmed cases at 685
