Pakistan’s coronavirus cases rise to 296
Pakistan’s coronavirus cases tally has risen to 296 cases, with a number of new positive patients reported in different cities.
GB government backtracks from the news of first death from coronavirus
The Gilgit-Baltistan government has backtracked minutes after reporting its first death from novel coronavirus.
GB Health Secretary Rashid Ahmed had initially confirmed at a news conference that a 90-year-old man from Diamer district died from coronavirus. COVID-19.
Later, GB government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq then said in a “clarification statement” that although the patient had tested positive for COVID-19, he also had pneumonia and therefore the cause of his death was not clear.
In the following statement, Firaq said a report from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, showed that the deceased, in fact, did not have COVID-19. He said the patient died from pneumonia.
A copy of the report provided by Firaq of the purported patient stated that the “80-year-old” man did not have coronavirus.
Meanwhile, The state minister for health, Dr. Zafar Mirza, tweeted that so far no death has been reported from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, in Pakistan.
“There is no COVID19 related reported deaths so far in Pakistan. Allhamdolillah,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Wednesday while giving updates on the virus situation in Pakistan.
I can confirm that until now there is no corona related death in 🇵🇰. Geo report about a death in GB is incorrect. The corona virus test of the patient is -ve. I request media reporters that in rush to break the news first, please don’t misreport. Check your facts twice <261>
— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) March 18, 2020
Seven more, people tested positive for coronavirus in Balochistan, provincial Chief Secretary retired Capt Fazeel Asghar said.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Balochistan has risen to 23.
AJK reports first coronavirus case
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) reported its first case of the virus in the region on Wednesday.
A 45-year-old man was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, who returned from Taftan recently.
AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider said that the patient is being kept in isolation and his condition is satisfactory.
19 new coronavirus cases in Karachi, collectively, Sindh has reported 36 new cases today
The number of coronavirus cases in Sindh went up to 208 after 19 people in Karachi tested positive, Meeran Yousuf, media coordinator of the health and population welfare minister said.
2 new cases confirmed in Punjab
Two new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Punjab, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced.
This takes the total number of cases in the province to 28.
