Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan on Thursday rose to 213,470 after about 4,339 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country over the last twenty-four hours.
Overall, 77,740 cases were reported in Punjab, 86,795 in Sindh, 26,938 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10,608 in Balochistan, 13,082 in Islamabad, 1,511 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 1,135 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
According to the government's Covid-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached 4,473 with 78 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours while around 102,986 patients have fully recovered from the disease.
Nearly one-and-a-half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, the government announced to ease the lockdown in phases, however, the number of coronavirus cases has continued to soar.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza says the number of coronavirus cases in the country is decreasing while monsoon season would further help in reducing the cases.
He said that smart lockdown is the only solution to control the spread the contagion and improve the national economy.
The SAPM said that people should go to hospitals and laboratories for the COVID-19 tests. He said 128 laboratories have been established across the country for this purpose.
Dr Zafar Mirza said that the government is taking actions against the medical stores and private laboratories for overcharging the people.
Moreover, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan is producing personal protective equipment (PPEs) according to international standards.
Addressing a news conference, the minister said adequate facilities have been provided to Faisalabad University to produce surgical and N95 masks.
He said that the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has prepared its first batch of 10 ventilators and the production would begin within 60 to 90 days.
The minister said that a special training group has been formed to train hospital staff to operate the ventilators.
Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan is exporting coronavirus material worth $100 million, adding that it will increase after the production of ventilators within the country.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly surpassed 10.7 million and death toll tops 515,000.
