Man who died in Peshawar hospital tests negative for coronavirus: minister

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra announced that a patient who passed away in Hayatabad Medical Complex tested negative for coronavirus.

The deceased was being treated as a suspected case by the provincial authorities.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Jhagra wrote: “Please note that the gentleman tested negative. Again you will be continuously and clearly informed.”

The minister said that the patient was dealt with as per protocols.

Meanwhile, the number of patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Pakistan jumped to 93 as 50 people tested positive in Sukkur in two days.

According to health officials, four tested positive in Islamabad, five in Gilgit Baltistan, 25 in Karachi, one in Hyderabad, seven in Taftan, 50 in Sukkur, one in Quetta and one in Lahore.

In a tweet, Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab said: “50 people who had arrived in Sukkur from Taftaan have tested positive for the virus. So the total patients have reached 76 in Sindh.”

Out of these 76 patients, only two have recovered while 74 are being kept in isolation, he added.

Prime Minister aide on health Dr Zafar Mirza said, “We’ve increased our diagnostic capacity, and are now able to carry out #coronavirus test in 13 labs across the country.”

He also asserted that the government has taken security measures on borders of the country to prevent spreading of coronavirus. Masses should not get panic and feel scared of the disease and adopt precautions, he advised.