Pakistan extends coronavirus lockdown till May 9; cases rise to 11,155

Pakistan on Friday extended partial lockdown imposed in country by ar two weeks as number of people affected by dely virus rose to over 11,000.

About 79 per cent of total coronavirus cases in Pakistan are w locally transmitted, health authorities said.

According to Ministry of National Health Services, 13 more patients died due to vel coronavirus, taking toll to 237 and ar 2,527 recovered.

In last 24 hours, 642 new cases were reported, taking tally to 11,155 in country, health officials said.

Punjab reported 4,767 patients, Sindh 3,671, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,541, Balochistan 607, Gilgit-Baltistan 300, Islamab 214 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 55 patients.

So far, 13,365 tests have been done in country, including 6,839 in last 24 hours.

confirmed cases are steily increasing and officials have warned that peak would reach by end of May or beginning of June.

dressing media in Islamab, Planning Minister As Umar said, "It has been decided that ongoing restrictions will continue till May 9."

He said decision was taken in a meeting of National Coordination Committee, which was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday said that 79 per cent of all cases in country were due to local transmissions.

government has decided to introduce a track and trace system under which random testing of people will start in a few days.

whole situation has changed due to local transmission, it h been decided to change policy to tackle issue, Executive Director of National Institute of Health Professor Aamer Ikram was quoted as saying by Dawn.

"Earlier most of cases were being reported in those people who were coming from abro and even cases of local transmission were being reported among those who h come into contact with foreign travellers. However w a majority of cases are being attributed to local transmission of virus," he said.

Authorities also urged people to offer prayers at home on Friday when big congregations are held in mosques.

Pakistan has allowed conditional congregational prayers in mosques during Ramzan, endangering drive to curb spre of coronavirus.

Minister Umar asked people to follow restrictions during Ramzan which will start from Saturday. “ month of Ramzan will be decisive and if succeeded in reinforcing restrictions, situation could get better after Eid," he said.

minister said that Army was helping government to tackle COVID-19 situation. He said cash was being distributed to poor under Ehsaas program and it will continue during Ramazan.

"At least Rs 69 billion have been distributed among deserving people under Ehsaas program," he said, ding Rs 144 billion will be distributed to poor.

Meanwhile, Asian Development Bank assured to provide 1.7 billion dollars to Pakistan to fight impacts of coronavirus.

assurance was given by President of bank during a virtual meeting with Minister for Ecomic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar.

Rio Pakistan reported that bank will approve USD 800 budget support by June this year.

It will provide next tranche of USD 900 million by end of this year.

budget support will be provided to Pakistan on special concessionary basis.

Minister for Ecomic Affairs thanked Asian Development Bank for extending financial cooperation to Pakistan.

Earlier, International Monetary Fund provided USD 1.4 billion under an emergency arrangement to help Pakistan.