Pakistan coronavirus death toll tops 1600

By Zahid Hussain Khan

ISLAMABAD: The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan rose to 1,621 on Tuesday as another 78 people succumbed to the disease.

At least 3,938 people have been tested positive in the past 24 hours, according to latest figures released by the National Command and Operation Center on Friday morning. All in all, 76,398 people have contracted the virus in Pakistan.

Sindh remains the worst-hit province with 29,647 cases followed by Punjab which has recorded 27,850 cases.  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 10, 850 positive cases, Balochistan has 4514, Gilgit Baltistan has 738 and AJk has 271 cases.

A total of 27, 110 patients have recovered from the respiratory disease. According to the NCOC, 16, 548 new tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and of them 3,938 came out positive.

PM chairs NCOC meeting

Prime Minister Imran Khan presided over the National Coordination Committee meeting and reviewed, in detail, COVID-19 situation in the country.

It decided to continue pursuing the policy of maintaining balance between life and livelihood while ensuring strict implementation of SOPs to contain spread of virus.

It was decided during the meeting to issue a negative list of businesses that would remain suspended in the effort to check further spread of the disease. However, a recommended list of businesses and commercial activities, unanimously agreed upon by the federal government and the federating units, would be circulated to industry allowing them to resume their activities.

Due to uncertainty about the life and spread of virus, it was reiterated during the meeting that we have to learn to live with COVID, however, SOPs would be implemented to check the spread of virus.

The PM decided that stranded Pakistanis abroad, who are mostly the working classes and laborers would not be left unattended during these testing times and special flights would be operated to bring them back to the country.

The Prime Minister directed that every effort must be made to facilitate them in their travel and on arrival ensuring that all passengers are quickly tested at the airports.

The meeting paid special tributes to the healthcare staff for their invaluable services in saving precious human lives. The Prime Minister directed that all possible facilitation including provision of personal protective equipment and other facilities be ensured to the healthcare workers who are frontline soldiers in the fight against Corona virus.

The PM also appreciated use of technology and resource management system for ensuring optimum utilization of the healthcare facilities and providing the people with accurate information and easy access to the available health facilities.

PM Khan also appreciated Testing, Tracking and Quarantine strategy that has been developed to effectively test, track and isolate the affected patients.

The participants including all the Chief Ministers pledged their commitment in pursuing the decisions taken during the meeting of National Coordination Committee and doing every bit to make the public aware of measures to deal with the COVID and fight it together at the national level.