Pakistan records deadliest day yet in coronavirus crisis

By Zahid Hussain Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded its single greatest one-day jump in deaths from coronavirus on Saturday, with 88 people succumbing to the disease.

It brings the total number of deaths in the country to nearly 14,95, according to figures released by the National Command and Operation Center on Friday morning.

At least 3,039 new coronavirus cases have been reported over the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally of infections to 69,495.

There are 25,056 confirmed cases in Punjab, 27330 in Sindh, 9530 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 4193 in Balochistan, 2418 in Islamabad, 6780 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 251 in Azad Kashmir.

A total of 25,271,131 patients have recovered from the respiratory disease. According to the NCOC, 14, 972 new tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and of them 3,039 came out positive.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s health aide Zafar Mirza said that the government had made it mandatory for people to wear face masks.

Taking to Twitter, Zafar Mirza said: “Face masks are now mandatory to be worn by everybody while in crowded public places, mosques, bazaars, shopping malls, public transport ie road, rail and flights. We have reviewed our guidelines for wearing masks and have added a mandatory section.”