The curious case of lifting lockdown in Pakistan, while COVID-19 cases cross 28,000 figure
Pakistan witnesses surge in COVID-19 positive cases that have reached 28, 551 figure with new cases reported on Saturday, while the capital signals to lift lockdown in phases.
As the federal government moves towards lifting lockdown, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) urges the government to follow World Health Organisation protocols and implement strict lockdown to minimize the spread of coronavirus.
While speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Dr. Ikram Tunio said, “We think the number will definitely spike. According to our information, there are five hospitals in Karachi that have a total of 63 beds reserved for coronavirus patients. If this is the condition in a city like Karachi, then you can imagine what it is like in other cities of Pakistan.”
Sindh
Sindh reports the highest single-day increase, confirming a record of 1,080 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, with 540 cases only from Karachi.
According to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the total number of infections in the province to 10,771.
This brings the total number of infections in the Sindh to 10,771.
He also reported four more deaths from the virus in the province, taking the total number of fatalities to 180.
* سندھ کی تاریخ میں پہلی مرتبہ اس وبا سے 24 گھنٹوں میں 1080 نئے کیسز رپورٹ ہوئے، وزیراعلیٰ سندھ
— Sindh Chief Minister House (@SindhCMHouse) May 9, 2020
Punjab
Meanwhile, Punjab reports 438 new cases, 8 more deaths, taking the provincial total to 10,471.
According to Punjab’s Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the total number of fatalities in the province has risen to 191, with reported 4,131 recoveries while 41 people are in critical condition.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
KP reports 182 new cases, 13 more deaths, taking the provincial tally to 4,509.
According to the KP health department, the province’s death toll from the virus rose to 234 with 13 new deaths reported — seven in Peshawar and one each in Charsadda, Khyber, Mardan, Swat, Malakand, and Abbottabad.
182 new cases (7 from Torkham quarantine center) were confirmed taking the total cases to 4,509. 13 new deaths were confirmed (7 in Peshawar, 1 each in Charsadda, Khyber, Mardan, Swat, Malakand, Abbottabad) taking the total to 234. 53 new patients recovered taking tally to 1,086. pic.twitter.com/Yw0Hm2bHAm
— Health Department KP (@HealthKPGovt) May 9, 2020
Balochistan
The total number of Balochistan’s cases is 1,873.
A spokesperson for Balochistan Government Liaquat Shahwani has said that the fatality rate in the province has been 1.5 percent for the past couple of months.
“The fatality rate is only 1.5 percent, this average is the same for the last few months. The recovery rate was 55pc then reduced to 15pc now it’s 13.8, it’s a little less than before,” he said.
Pakistan’s Covid-19 death toll rises to 623
Pakistan’s Covid-19 death toll has risen to 623 after Punjab reported eight deaths and Sindh reported four more deaths from the virus on Saturday:
The countrywide breakdown of deaths is as follows:
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — 221
- Punjab — 191
- Sindh — 180
- Balochistan — 24
- Islamabad — 4
- Gilgit Baltistan — 3
Azad Jammu and Kashmir has not reported any fatalities so far.
