publish time

19/03/2020

author name Arab Times

publish time

19/03/2020

author name Arab Times

ISLAMABAD, March 18 (KUNA) -- Pakistan on Wednesday has reported its first fatality from the novel coronavirus in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, with the total tally of infections in the country reaching 294.

Shops owners stand outside their closed shops in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The government of Sindh province ordered the closure of markets, restaurants, educational institutions and other public places to contain the spread of the coronavirus. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)


A 50-year-old patient, who had arrived from Saudi Arabia on March 9, died in Mardan city on Wednesday, the provincial KPK Health Minister Taimur Jhagra confirmed.
Meanwhile, Sindh provincial chief spokesperson Murtaza Wahab confirmed 27 new infection cases among pilgrims returned from Iran through Taftan border, raising the provincial tally to 208.
There are 151 confirmed cases in Sukkur (all in Taftan- returned pilgrims), 56 in Karachi and one in Hyderabad, he confirmed.


Punjab provincial chief Usman Buzdar also confirmed two new cases, saying the total number of COVID-19 cases in the province now stands at 28.
He has announced that his government has decided to bar tourists from visiting tourists' places as part of measures to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading. Restaurants, hotels and shopping malls will be closed by 10pm every day, he added.


The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 294 with 208 cases in southern Sindh province while eastern Punjab has 28, KPK reported 19, Balochistan has 23, Islamabad two, Gilgit-Baltistan 14.