Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan on Sunday rose to 248,872 after about 2,521 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country over the last twenty-four hours.
Overall, 86,556 cases were reported in Punjab, 103,836 in Sindh, 30,078 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 11,157 in Balochistan, 14,023 in Islamabad, 1,658 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 1,564 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
According to the government's Covid-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached 5,197 with 74 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.
The National Command and Operation Center’s (NCOC) data shows that there has been an improvement in the number of recoveries from COVID-19 in the country with figure now reaching 156,700.
Nearly one-and-a-half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, the government announced to ease the lockdown in phases.
Later, "Smart lockdowns" had been imposed in Covid-19 hotspots in major cities across the country.
As per NCOC, the implementation on the smart lockdown in the country has significantly reduced the number of deaths.
Meanwhile, the NCOC was informed that guidelines have been prepared and shared with all the provinces regarding Eidul Azha.
Chairing a meeting of NCOC to review Eidul Azha cattle market management, epidemic curve chart, availability of COVID-19 and non COVID-19 medicines, the Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar directed for evolving an effective monitoring mechanism to check social distancing and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The NCOC suggested setting up cattle markets on the outskirts of the cities for specified time period, compulsory testing of animal handlers, and engaging ulema for implementation of Standard Operating Principles on the eve of Eid.
The NCOC was informed that the World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to contain the virus and termed Pakistani data accurate.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly near 12.5 million and death toll tops 559,000.
