Early Sunday, Pakistan’s coronavirus tally surged past 1,500. The country has recorded 12 fatalities from the virus so far while the recoveries stand at 28. Punjab remains the worst affected followed by Sindh, Balochistan, KP, AJK/GB, and Islamabad in terms of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
China, the onetime epicenter of the disease, has now been overtaken by the US, which now has over 123,750 cases, followed by Italy that has recorded over 92,472 confirmed cases. In death toll, Italy is leading the world recording over 10,000 deaths followed by Spain with about 6,000 deaths.
In China, the new coronavirus cases are trending lower. The country reported 45 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for Saturday, down from 54 on the previous day. Almost all cases involved travelers from overseas with only one case of local transmission.
Here are the latest updates:
Here’s UNICEF Pakistan’s explainer on social distancing
These days, there is a great emphasis on #SocialDistancing but what does it really mean?
It means avoiding large gatherings and maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet or 1 meter from others to stop the spread of #coronavirus.
Read more: https://t.co/tOxfMAxBIC@nhsrcofficial
— UNICEF Pakistan (@UNICEF_Pakistan) March 28, 2020
KP reports 4 new coronavirus cases
4 new coronavirus cases have been recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The province’s total is now at 192.
4 new cases were confirmed in KP taking the total tally to 192 in the province. 1 each from Dir Lower and Abbotabad and 2 from Peshawar.
1 fatality was also confirmed from Abbotabad taking the total toll to 5. #CoronaInPakistan— Health Department KP (@HealthKPGovt) March 29, 2020
KP reports new coronavirus death
Pakistan’s coronavirus toll has just risen to 15 with another death recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The 78-year-old man passed away in Abbottabad after allegedly contracting the disease from some Tableeghi Jamaat members residing in the area.
The area, therefore, has been put under quarantine.
NEW CASES: Sindh 33, Balochistan 3
Sindh has reported 33 new coronavirus cases, all of local transmission, taking the provincial tally to 502.
Balochistan recorded 3 new cases with its total reaching 141.
27 at Raiwind Tableeghi Markaz test positive for coronavirus
27 members of the Tableeghi Jamaat staying at the Raiwind Tableeghi Markaz have tested positive for Covid-19.
According to health authorities, 35 members were tested for the virus so far out of which 27 members were found to be Covid-19 positive.
German Finance minister commits suicide over coronavirus worry
The finance minister of the regional state of Germany’s financial centre Frankfurt has committed suicide, police and the public prosecutor’s office said in a joint statement on Saturday.
Thomas Schaefer, who had led the finance ministry of Hesse for almost ten years, was found dead next to train tracks near Frankfurt, according to a police investigation.
Source: Reuters
4 new cases emerge in AJK
AJK has reported 4 new coronavirus cases with its tally reaching 6.
The new cases were detected in the Mirpur division.
Covid-19 is NOT airborne: WHO
WHO has clarified that Covid-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.
FACT: #COVID19 is NOT airborne.
The #coronavirus is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.
To protect yourself:
-keep 1m distance from others
-disinfect surfaces frequently
-wash/rub your 👐
-avoid touching your 👀👃👄 pic.twitter.com/fpkcpHAJx7— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 28, 2020
PAF IL-78 aircraft carrying medical equipment from china lands at Nur Khan airbase
The Air Transport fleet of PAF has been assigned the onerous responsibility to Airlift medical equipment and relief goods from the Peoples’ Republic of China to help fight COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan.
In this regard, a PAF IL- 78 aircraft laden with 14 Tons of cargo comprising Ventilators, N95 masks, and protective gear landed at PAF Base Nur Khan early in the morning today.
This is one of the many relief flights undertaken by PAF in the past couple of months. These sorties also include the ones flown to COVID hit the Chinese City of Wuhan, earlier this year.
During these relief sorties, Tons of medical supplies were airlifted by PAF aircraft.
Details of Punjab Infectious Disease Ordinance
Punjab Infectious Disease Prevention & Control Ordinance 2020 promulgated
Punjab Infectious Disease Prevention & Control Ordinance 2020 promulgated which will enable Govt of Punjab to take all necessary measures to prevent & protect the public from the #COVID19.
"Punjab Infectious Disease Prevention & Control Ordinance 2020" has been promulgated which will enable Govt of Punjab to take all necessary measures to prevent & protect public from the dangerous #COVID19 disease and any such epidemic in future. https://t.co/KZVGrS5eKI
— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) March 29, 2020
Sindh reports two 2 coronavirus deaths
Two more coronavirus patients have lost their battle against the virus in Sindh.
Sindh Health and Population Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho confirmed the news.
She informed that the ages of the victims were 83 and 70, and the cause of the death in both cases was pneumonia along with Covid-19.
13 new cases reported from Punjab
Punjab has reported 13 new cases of coronavirus.
The province’s total has reached 570 now.
NEW CASES: GB 9, Islamabad 4
Nine new coronavirus cases have been reported in Gilgit Baltistan, while four more have emerged in Islamabad.
Islamabad’s coronavirus cases now total at 43 while GB’s tally stands at 116 so far.
Recoveries in Pakistan have also risen by 3 to 28.
Punjab, KP announce relief packages
Punjab has unveiled Rs 10 billion relief package for daily-wage earners. The package will financially support 2.5 million families in the province with each family getting Rs 4,000 financial assistance.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa announced a Rs 32 billion package for the vulnerable segments of society in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
SBP eases paper-based clearing options
To combat the potential spread of Covid-19 pandemic by limiting person-to-person interactions and to provide ease of services to the customers, Banks/MFBs are allowed to provide the following services to their customers:
- Direct cheque deposit facility
- Doorstep cheque collection facility
- Drop box cheque collection facility
Source: Dawn
5 new cases emerge in Balochistan
Balochistan has recorded 5 new cases taking the provincial total to 138.
KP reports 8 new cases
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 8 new coronavirus cases.
The provincial tally has reached 188 now.
106 pilgrims released from Sukkur quarantine: Murtaza Wahab
106 pilgrims have finished their 14 day quarantine period in Sukkur & their corona virus tests have also come as negative. These 106 pilgrims are being released from the quarantine centre after propers tests
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) March 28, 2020
Punjab records 27 new cases
Punjab has registered 27 new coronavirus cases. The new cases take Punjab’s provincial tally to 557.
So far, 5 people in Punjab have died of Covid-19.
UAE launches drive-thru coronavirus testing
The United Arab Emirates launches a #coronavirus drive-through testing center where people can get tested for #COVID_19 while remaining in their cars, according to photos posted by Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on Twitter.#UAEhttps://t.co/yg9Etf1QNu pic.twitter.com/0PjohHcDJl
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 28, 2020
For our coronavirus coverage from March 28, click here.
