Pakistan nears 177,000 cases of coronavirus – 3,501 confirmed dead

LAHORE – The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose to a total of 176,612, according to government data until Sunday morning.
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Total confirmed cases: 176,612

• Sindh: 67,353
• Punjab: 65,739
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 21,444
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 10,662
• Balochistan: 9,328
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 1,278
• AJK: 813

Recovered: 67,892

Deaths: 3,501

Updated as of 09:15 am, 21 June 2020 

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COVID-19 fatalities

The death toll related to COVID-19 has reached 3,501, according to the National Command and Control Centre, while at least 67,892 patients have fully recovered.

Punjab has reported the highest number of deaths, a total of 1,347, while Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa follow with 1,048 and 808 fatalities respectively. Balochistan has recorded 102 fatalities; Islamabad, 95 deaths; Gilgit Baltistan, 21; and Azad Kashmir, 17.

The first two fatalities from COVID-19, as the illness is officially known, were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 18 (Wednesday). 

KNOW ABOUT COVID-19

Citizens are advised to:

• Wash hands regularly with soap, besides cleaning surfaces regularly with recommended disinfectants
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with contaminated hands
• Practice respiratory hygiene by coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue and then immediately dispose of it
• Wear a medical or surgical mask if you have respiratory symptoms - Perform hand hygiene after disposing of the mask.
• Maintain a minimum of mandatory 1-meter distance from individuals with respiratory symptoms
• If symptoms appear, doctors or 1166 should be approached immediately

'Smart' lockdowns in Pakistan

Although Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out a total lockdown to avoid drastic consequences on the national economy, Pakistan -- a nation of over 220 million people -- has already placed a general ban on public gatherings - including weddings, social gatherings and other types of congregations.

Wearing masks at crowded places has been declared mandatory to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Last month, the federal government announced to cancel all board exams, besides extending vacations of all educational institutions till July 15 across Pakistan, with schools and other educational institutions remain shut.

In addition to that, an enforced closure of all shopping centers, cinemas, public parks, non-essential government offices, and other locations where people might congregate is in place. Grocery stores and pharmacies, however, remain open.

Partial lockdowns are in place across the country while the public is encouraged to follow social distancing and self-quarantine.

In big cities of Punjab, the hardest-hit province, restrictions will be eased during the rest of the days, all shops and markets will remain between (9am-7pm) open with proper implementation of all SOPs.

The country's borders with China and India are closed while goods transport has been allowed on three crossings with Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the federal government is providing cash assistance of 12,000 rupees to over 12 million deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program in the wake of COVID-19.

Latest on Coronavirus from around the world

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is affecting 210 countries and territories around the world and 2 international conveyance.

More than 466,000 people have died and over 8.9 million people infected by the disease as it wreaks havoc across the world. Over 4.7 million people have also recovered from a mysterious illness.

The top five countries with the most deaths are the USA (121,980), Brazil (50,058), the United Kingdom (42,589), Italy (34,610), and France (29,633).

India, the world's second-largest nation of more than a billion people, has a total of 411,727 coronavirus cases, while 13,277 people have died so far.

Bangladesh has confirmed 1,425 deaths due to COVID-19, with a total of 108,775 people infected, according to the government data.

Afghanistan has so far officially reported 28,424 cases of coronavirus and 569 deaths in the war-torn country.

Sri Lanka has confirmed 1,950 cases of COVID-19  and 11 deaths due to coronavirus.

Maldives has 2,187 cases of COVID-19; Nepal, 8,605 and Bhutan 68.