- Pakistan reports its 3rd coronavirus death in Karachi, Sindh
- The latest victim was a 77-year-old cancer survivor with other health conditions
- Pakistan reported its first two coronavirus deaths on March 18, both in KP
- Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 495
- Sindh has been affected the worst with 252 confirmed cases so far
- Punjab has reported 96, Baluchistan 92, KP 23, AJK/GB 22, and Islamabad 10 cases
Pakistan’s tally of confirmed coronavirus cases has also jumped to 464 with new cases coming in by the hour from all provinces.
Both the center and provinces continue to ramp up their efforts to restrict the virus’ spread through strict measures that range from curtailing social and commercial activities to suspending bus and train services and imposing partial city lockdowns.
A spike in local transmission was seen with Sindh alone reporting at least 40 verified cases of domestic spread. Among other measures, the Sindh government announced that the Karachi Expo Center was to be converted to a ten-thousand-bed makeshift hospital dedicated to coronavirus emergency.
The army announced that it was extending all-out support to the central and provincial governments to fight the pandemic, and that its scientists were producing masks, sanitizers, and other protective gear to fill the supply gap created by panic buying and hoarding.
In a major development, the government of Pakistan announced the launch of an online portal to relay official information on the novel coronavirus and its spread. The portal features a live, interactive dashboard on the latest COVID-19 stats and can be accessed at covid.gov.pk.
The portal, however, was found to be showing fewer numbers than the reported ones but contains comprehensive information on COVID-19 and prevention guides.
In other developments, the PCB announced that the COVID-19 tests of all players, support staff, match officials, broadcasters and team owners were negative. The tests were conducted as part of the PCB’s ‘duty of care’, following a suspected case. The Indian Prime Minister Modi ordered a one-day nationwide curfew on Sunday to test the country’s ability to isolate its nearly 1.4 billion citizens.
In other news, China reported zero local transmissions in Wuhan or the surrounding Hubei province for the first time since the outbreak began.
Here are the latest updates.
Baluchistan Reports 11 New Cases
11 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Baluchistan with the provincial total jumping to 92.
Karachi Reports 3 New Cases
Sindh’s tally just climbed to 252 with Karachi reporting three new cases.
The new numbers take the city’s cases of local transmission to 61.
Italy Reports New One-day Record of Deaths, Toll Crosses 4,000
Italy has recorded the highest numbers of sing-day coronavirus deaths reporting 627 new fatalities.
Italy’s death toll has reached 4,032 with infections reaching 47,021. The country saw 1,500 deaths in the past 3 days alone.
WATCH: Wasim Akram & Shaniera Share Tips on Fighting Coronavirus Spread
The legend @wasimakramlive & @iamShaniera sharing some very useful tips to combat #COVID2019#APPNews #CoronaInPakistan #CronaFreePakistan @SnapPakistan @CTurnerFCO @pontecorvoste pic.twitter.com/1Ty7eXrLlc
— APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) March 20, 2020
CM Sindh Wants People to Self-Isolate for Three Days
It’s a long weekend in Pakistan with the 23rd March holiday falling on Monday. In view of this, CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has urged people to observe voluntary self-isolation to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
He asked the people to stay indoors over the next three days as all shops, hotels, and dining facilities will also remain shut making it useless for people to get out.
11 New Cases in Karachi reported; Sindh Total Now at 249
Karachi has reported 11 new coronavirus cases. The new numbers take province’s tally to 249.
According to the spokesperson for the Sindh health department Meeran Yusuf, 51 of Karachi’s 87 coronavirus cases were locally transmitted, and the one person that died due to the virus also did not have a travel history.
51 cases out of 87 in #Karachi have been contact cases. The 1 person who died had no travel or contact history. FOR GODS SAKE STOP BEING IRRESPONSIBLE. MAINTAIN A SOCIAL DISTANCE. STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! #CoronaVirusPakistan #CoronaInPakistan
— Meeran Yousuf (@LumosNotNox) March 20, 2020
Baluchistan to Receive Rs 1 Billion from Punjab for Pilgrims’ Medical Facilities
The Punjab govt. has announced that it will be making a financial donation of Rs 1 billion to Baluchistan to be used in health facilities for the pilgrims returning from Iran.
The announcement was made by the Punjab CM Usman Buzdar who also thanked Baluchistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal for taking care of the people.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan Calls for Lifting of Iran Sanctions
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan called Friday for the lifting of US-led sanctions on Iran, so Tehran can better deal with the novel coronavirus crisis.
Khan’s comments came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote to him asking for help in dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak that has now killed at least 1,433 people in Iran.
Punjab Reports 16 New Coronavirus Cases
Punjab has reported 16 new COVID-19 cases which take its provincial tally to 96. The new numbers came in a notification from Qaiser Asif, the spokesperson for Punjab’s health department.
According to Asif, 71 of Punjab’s cases have been reported from Zaireen who traveled to the province from Taftan, 15 from Lahore, 2 from Multan, 3 from Muzaffargarh, 1 from Rawalpindi, 3 from Gujrat and 1 from Jehlum.
Distribute Zakat Now and Don’t Wait for Ramzan: CII
In its recent notification, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has urged people to distribute zakat and sadqa as soon as possible to minimize the adverse effects of the coronavirus epidemic.
The pandemic continues to shake the world’s biggest economies to their core and people in developing countries like Pakistan remain the worst hit.
Especially the poor and those on daily wages are facing a severe financial crisis which people’s support in the form of zakat and sadqa can help to ease.
President Alvi Performs Friday Prayers At Home
In a message on twitter, President Arif Alvi has informed that he performed the Friday Zohr prayers at his home.
Citing a hadith, he has urged others to do the same.
I decided to perform Zohar in my house today instead of Juma. May Allah forgive me. I am attracted to Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ who said ‘Sick should not be mixed with healthy' and when I don't know who is sick and who is healthy, I save others from my infection too.
استغفراللہ— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) March 20, 2020
Sindh Health Department is Looking for Doctors
The Sindh Health Department says it is looking for doctors from Sindh to work on a 6-month contract basis during the COVID19 emergency.
Interested candidates are advised to send their documents on the address shared by the dept. in its tweet.
Sindh Health Department is looking for doctors from #Sindh to work on a 6 month contract basis during the #COVID19 emergency. Please send in your documents on the address mentioned below if you meet the criteria. #SindhHealth #CoronaInPakistan #CoronaVirusPakistan pic.twitter.com/5YnjhAE9Bc
— Health, SW, PHE & RD Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) March 20, 2020
WHO Creates WhatsApp Number For Coronavirus Information
To relay updated information on COVID-19 to the masses, the WHO has created an automated WhatsApp number.
Users can send a random text to the number at +41 798 931 892 to stay up to date on the global coronavirus epidemic.
Pakistan Opens Chaman Border
PM Imran Khan has announced that he has given instructions to open the Chaman border for trucks saying “In the time of crisis, we remain steadfast with Afghanistan.”
Despite global pandemic of COVID 19, we remain committed to supporting our Afghan brothers & sisters. I have given instructions to open the Chaman-Spinboldak border & let trucks crossover into Afghanistan. In time of crisis, we remain steadfast with Afghanistan.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 20, 2020
Govt. Sends Cooked Food to Pakistanis Stuck in China
The Pakistani government has sent 17 tonnes of cooked food to Wuhan for Pakistanis stuck there.
According to SAPM Information Firdous Ashiq Awan, the food has been made on PM’s instructions.
Punjab Reports 2 New Coronavirus Cases
Two more COVID-19 positive cases have emerged in Punjab, according to the province’s health ministry.
The new additions take Punjab’s total to 80 so far.
Sindh Tally ‘238 not 245’: Sindh Health Ministry
Saying the previous tally of 245 VOVID-19 infections was a counting error, the Sindh health ministry has revised the numbers to 238.
Update of #COVIDー19 affected people in #Sindh as on 20.03.20 at 11 AM:
Positive = 87
Cured=3
Death=1
Under treatment = 83Pilgrims Sukkur
Total tests conducted 302
Negative 151
Positive 151Current Number under treatment: 234
Grand Total 238#SindhHealth #CoronaVirusPakistan
— Health, SW, PHE & RD Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) March 20, 2020
COVID-19: The World in Numbers
As of March 20, 11:30 am (PKT) 245,913 coronavirus cases have been reported across the world with 10,048 deaths and 88,465 recoveries.
Although China maintains the lead in terms of infections with 80,967 reported cases so far, Italy has surpassed it in deaths with its toll rising to 3,405 compared to 3,284 reported deaths in China.
This is in spite of the total number of infections that are about 50% less in Italy with 41,035 cases than China’s 80,967 cases. Recoveries have also been low in Italy at 4,440 compared to 71,150 in China.
Iran is also hit bad with18,407 cases, 1,248 deaths, and 5,979 recoveries. Spain, Germany, the USA, France, S. Korea, Switzerland, and the UK, among other countries, are also seeing sharp surges in the number of reported cases.
First Coronavirus Death Reported in Karachi, Sindh
Sindh has reported the first COVID-19 death, taking the country’s toll to 3 so far.
The news was confirmed by Sindh health minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho who informed the patient was a 77-year-old cancer survivor and had diabetes and hypertension.
The patient did not have a travel history and was a case of local transmission.
With a very heavy heart we’re confirming the first death of #COVID19 in #Sindh. The 77 year old patient was a resident of Karachi & had a history of carcinoma, diabetes and hypertension with no travel and contact history. #SindhHealth #CoronaVirusPakistan pic.twitter.com/NZbOQoncv3
— Health, SW, PHE & RD Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) March 20, 2020
Trump Cancels G7 Summit, Will Hold a Video Conference Instead
President Donald Trump will cancel an in-person G7 summit at Camp David this summer and hold a video conference instead https://t.co/CHPNJYQ2so Latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://t.co/3z0BZDCryU pic.twitter.com/kmVkGuKnhY
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 20, 2020
Presence & Praying In Squares of Two Holy Mosques Banned
The Spokesperson for the General Presidency for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Hani bin Hosni Haider, stated that the Presidency and the security and health authorities decided to suspend the presence and prayers in the outer squares of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque starting Friday (today), as part of precautionary and preventive measures to prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.
The Spokesperson emphasized that the General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque calls upon everyone to cooperate with all precautionary measures taken to preserve the health and safety of the pilgrims of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, and to work to limit the spread of Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) among worshipers.
Source: SPA
Govt. Announces Formation of Joint Parliamentary Body to Fight Coronavirus
A statement from the Prime Minister Office says that PM Imran Khan has decided to form a joint parliamentary committee of treasury and opposition members to seek opposition’s support in the fight against novel coronavirus.
“Regarding the coronavirus situation and its control, the formation of a joint parliamentary committee of the government and the opposition was also agreed during the meeting,” the statement said.
Italy Death Toll Surpasses China’s
On Thursday, coronavirus deaths in Italy surpassed those recorded in China. So far, 3,405 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in Italy compared to 3,245 deaths recorded in China, the epicenter of the pandemic.
On Wednesday alone, Itlay had recorded 247 new deaths. The country is bracing for an extended lockdown that could be the toughest blow to the country’s economy since WW2.
For our coronavirus coverage from March 19, click here.
You can also include demo-graphical map to highlight infected areas.
Baluchistan 92 cases mentioned in your article.
But on the top Banner it says 9 cases in Baluchistan.