Coronavirus Live Updates: Global virus cases cross 1 million, deaths surpass 60,000

As of today (7:50AM, Tuesday): The new coronavirus first surfaced in central China in late 2019. Infections have now exceeded one million cases worldwide, with the United States, Italy and Spain overtaking mainland China in confirmed cases.

Keep watching this space for coronavirus updates from around the world and Pakistan

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan increased to 2,443 on Friday, according to official data.

Province-wise break up is as follows:

Total confirmed cases: 2,768

• Sindh: 839

• Punjab: 1,133

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 372

• Balochistan: 189

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 75

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 194

• AJK: 12

Deaths: 43

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 13

• Sindh: 14

• Balochistan: 1

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3

• Punjab: 12

Worldwide tally

The worldwide number of officially confirmed fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to 52,000 on Friday, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources.

More than 1 million declared cases have been registered in 200 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 182,700 are now considered recovered.

LIVE UPDATES

11:00pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP govt reports 3 deaths, 29 new cases

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported three more deaths and an increase in the total number of cases by 29.

The deceased patients were 50, 62 and 76 years old, respectively.

The overall tally of infected now stands at 372, while the number of deaths have hit 13, as confirmed by the provincial health department.

9:00pm — Quetta, Balochistan — 10 more case emerge

Balochistan reported 10 new cases, bumping the province’s tally to 185, provincial health department confirmed.

The infected include 11 doctors and eight security guards, the department said.

8:00pm — New York, US — Musician Salman Ahmad tests positive for coronavirus

In a conversation with Geo News, the famed Pakistani-American guitarist has revealed he has tested positive for the virus, a day after he had tweeted he may have contracted it.

“I am quarantined at home and do not feel well. I request you all to pray for me,” he told Geo News.

7:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Over 600,000 register for Corona Relief Tiger Force

کورونا ریلیف ٹائیگر فورس
کے لیے رجسٹریشن کروانے والے
نوجوانوں کی تعداد 6,14,000 سے تجاوز کر گئی۔
⁦#PMHazirHai⁩ ⁦#PCP⁩
⁦#PMTigersForce pic.twitter.com/4VIPlwLNvF

— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) April 4, 2020

6:13pm — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Authorities lock down several Jeddah neighborhoods

Saudi authorities announced a lockdown and a partial curfew in seven neighborhoods of the Red Sea city of Jeddah, starting on Saturday, as part of measures to contain the new coronavirus outbreak, the interior ministry said in a statement, Reuters reported.

The ministry said residents in those neighborhoods could only go out for grocery shopping and medical care, between 6am (0300 GMT) and 3pm. Entering and exiting the neighborhoods will be restricted, it added.

5:28pm — Lahore, Pakistan — PM Imran says Facebook page to help track needy people

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the government was creating a Facebook page — which would be launched by next week — to track down the needy people.

“People who want to donate can register themselves and we will connect the needy and the person who wants to donate through the page,” he said while addressing at an event.

4:41pm — Amsterdam, Netherlands — Confirmed coronavirus deaths rise by 164 to 1,651

The confirmed death toll from the coronavirus in the Netherlands has risen by 164 to 1,651, health authorities said, Reuters reported.

The National Institute for Health (RIVM) said the total number of infections had increased by 6% to 16,627 over the past 24 hours.

The actual number of deaths and infections is higher than the official figure due to a lack of widespread testing for the coronavirus, the RIVM has said.

3: 30 Drive-through coronavirus screening centre in Abu Dhbai becomes popular

A drive-through coronavirus screening centre in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi has become a go-to destination for many wanting reassurance during the pandemic.

The facility, believed to be the first of its kind in the Gulf, greets around 600 people a day in the 12 hours it is in service.

The test is free for the elderly, pregnant women and anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19. Others can get tested for 370 dirhams ($100).

2:30: British PM says he is isolating 

The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, said on Friday he was remaining in isolation with mild symptoms of the coronavirus, including a high temperature, seven days after he first tested positive.

“Although I’m feeling better and I’ve done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, I still have a temperature,” Johnson said in a video message posted on Twitter.

“So in accordance with government advice I must continue my self isolation until that symptom itself goes.”

Johnson announced a week ago that he had tested positive and would be isolating in Downing Street.

12 30: UK records worst day 

The UK has endured its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic, with 569 fatalities recorded in 24 hours.

As Downing Street comes under mounting pressure over its perceived failure to accelerate nationwide testing to combat the virus, the country’s Covid-19 death toll continues to rise.

A total of 2,921 people had died in hospitals after testing positive for the disease as of 5pm on Wednesday, representing a slightly bigger increase than the previous day, when there were 563 deaths.

11:00: Russia suspends all flights bringing citizens home

Russia will suspend all flights bringing Russians home from abroad from Friday night, Reports reports citing the Interfax news agency.

The announcement was made with no explanation. Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that 25,000 people abroad had appealed for help getting home, with many still stranded as measures to curb the spread of coronavirus have limited travel options.

10: 00: Pakistan borders remain shut

Chaman, Pakistan — Border remains closed for 32nd straight day to contain virus spread
The Chaman border with Afghanistan remained closed for a 32nd straight day on Friday to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

“The movement of goods and people across the border remains suspended on the orders of the government,” Deputy Commissioner Chaman told the media on Friday morning.

11: 58 AM: Pakistan death toll at 18 as four more succumb to coronavirus

Four more deaths have been reported in Pakistan from coronavirus taking the national total to 18.

A 63 year old man in Rawalpindi – had come from UK A 55 year old diabetic patient in Taxila

A 66 year old patient in Karachi who was undergoing dialysis

A 52 year old patient in Karachi who had respiratory issues

We can confirm 2 more deaths in #Karachi from #COVID19 as of this morning. The 66 and 52 year old had underlying renal & respiratory diseases & had acquired #COVID19 through contact at the Raiwand Ijtima. This brings the total number of deaths in #Sindh to 5. #SindhHealth

— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) March 30, 2020

9: 50 AM: PM to unveil roadmap to ensure uninterrupted food supplies

Prime Minister Imran Khan will today announce a comprehensive roadmap to ensure uninterrupted food supplies across the country.

This was stated by Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, while briefing media persons about PTI’s Core Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister in Islamabad.

She said the Prime Minister renewed his pledge to ensure delivery of ration and food supplies to deserving poor families across the country at their doorsteps.

The Special Assistant said due to ongoing lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus, national economy is being affected and chain of daily use items has slowed down.

She said the Prime Minister advised Minister for National Food Security to ensure availability of food items, including flour.

10: 30: Islamabad High Court quashes petition seeking probe against Zulfi Bukhari over arrival of Shia pilgrims to Taftan from Iran on his alleged intervention. 

9: 41 AM: Italy’s ‘very long’ lockdown to only end gradually

The message from ministers and health officials came as Italy’s world-topping toll rose by 756 — well bellow Friday’s record of 969 — and the rate of coronavirus infections slowed to under six percent for the first time.

Yet the government appeared more focused on the nearing April 3 deadline to lift a national lockdown that had never been tried by a Western democracy — and has since been replicated across Europe and the United States.

“The measures expiring on April 3 will inevitably be extended,” Regional Affairs Minister Francesco Boccia told Italy’s Sky TG24 television.

8:50 AM: 33 new cases reported in Sindh over past 24 hours

Summary of Cases on 29.03.2020:
-33new cases in Karachi
-2 deaths in Karachi

Total number of tests conducted in Sindh to date: 5945#SindhHealth

— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) March 29, 2020

8:20 AM: Sindh government disburses Rs6,000 each to 100,000 families

In its fight against the coronavirus, the Sindh government has donated Rs6,000 to 100,000 families. The amount, as per reports, was deposited directly into the accounts of the needy according to the Benazir Maawanat Card.

#SindhGovt has disbursed Rs 6,000 each to 100,000 families across the province (Total Rs 600,000,000), directly into their accounts – no intermediary was engaged for data collection or disbursements as details are already available with #SindhGovt‘s Zakat & Usher Dept. pic.twitter.com/hgYcVibbxR

— Majid Agha (@Majid_Agha) March 29, 2020

8:00 AM: 17 Balochistan coronavirus patients recover

Chief Minister Jam Kamal took to Twitter to announce that 17 patients of the novel virus have tested negative after they were found to be positive cases of the coronavirus.

Alhamdulilah 17 people in Sheikh zahid hospital after positive, then spent 14 days in hospital and now after tests again have now shown negative.

Tomorrow inshallah we shall do a test again for further assurance.

— Jam Kamal Khan (@jam_kamal) March 29, 2020

7:50 AM: Death toll crosses 1,000 mark in New York

The death toll in New York has crossed 1,000 people as the state and city continue to battle the pandemic. New York Mayor has time and called on the government to provide the city with more ventilators to deal with the coronavirus. The US has 139,000 confirmed infections from the coronavirus, more than any other country in the world, while more than 2,400 people have died from the respiratory illness caused by the pathogen.