Pakistan records first death from coronavirus as confirmed cases rise to 289

Pakistan on Wednesday reported its first casualty due to dely coronavirus that has infected 289 people across country.

"S to report one patient who passed away in Mardan,"

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra tweeted late Wednesday night.

number of cases in worst-hit Sindh province reached to 208 on Wednesday after 19 people in Karachi tested positive, said Meeran Yousuf, media coordinator of health and population welfare minister.

She said province recorded total 36 new cases on Wednesday.

Majority of Pakistan's COVID-19 cases are linked to those who went on pilgrim to Iran, one of countries hardest-hit by disease, while less than half a dozen are locally transmitted.

Pakistan shares a 960-kilometre border with Iran, with main crossing point at Taftan in Balochistan province.

Taftan border has been closed since March 16, but thousands of Pakistan Shia pilgrims who were visiting religious sites in Iran have been allowed to return subject to two weeks' quarantine.

More 10 cases were reported in Gilgit-Baltistan and its Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman said that total number of infection in region was 15.

Also, first coronavirus case was reported from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where a 45-year old person who h recently come back from Iran was found positive.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said two new cases emerged in province where total number rose to 28.

Buzdar also anunced that restaurants, hotels and shopping malls would be shut down by 10pm every day to reduce exposure. He also said that number of staff at offices will be reduced.

Alrey 19 cases were reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 16 from Balochistan and 2 from Islamab.

Authorities in Pakistan have screened over 1,015,900 travellers since virus was first detected in country. At least 20,088 travellers have been screened in last 24 hours.

Sindh government has come out criticising Centre for lack of foresight in quarantine arrangements in Taftan where over 9,000 pilgrims returning from Iran h been quarantined by Balochistan government in a ‘tent city’.

After completing 14-day incubation period, pilgrims were allowed to travel back to ir cities. However, Sindh and K-P sent pilgrims to isolation facilities in Sukkur and Dera Ismail Khan and tested m before allowing furr travel.

In its March 13 National Security Committee meeting, Centre formed a vel Coronavirus Core Committee with daily meetings between federal and provincial authorities.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government tasked National Disaster Manment Authority (NDMA) to coordinate with provincial governments and le fight against vel coronavirus.

federal government also decided to ban public garings, close all educational institutions until April 5 and cancel Pakistan Day pare on March 23. It also sealed borders and limited international flights operations to Islamab, Lahore and Karachi.

However, NSC decision on international travel was taken back on Tuesday when government lifted restrictions on all airports except Gwar and Turbat.

In Sindh, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government edges towards lockdown after it closed all restaurants, malls, shopping centres and imposed Section 144. Only grocery stores and pharmacies have been allowed to operate.

Balochistan government banned public garings, suspended biometric attendance, limited activities and closed educational institutions.

K-P also banned public garings, closed educational institutions and directed police to ensure people were t arranging private events.

Meanwhile, junior doctors and nurses have anunced a strike in public sector hospitals in Punjab province protesting short of kits and n-provision of or precautionary gear for medics.

Nurses at Sheikh Zayed Nursing College (SZNC) RahimYar Khan on Wednesday refused to perform duties during coronavirus emergency and held a protest against ministration for forcing m to perform duty in hospital without taking any precautionary measures to save m from virus.

Grand Health Alliance (GHA) Chairman Salman Haseeb said ailing people visit hospitals in life-threatening conditions only.

"Doctors will attend to only serious patients and strongly oppose treating ors at outpatient departments of state-run hospitals. health authorities only provided 1,200 kits to hospitals across Punjab (a province of 110million) for frontline employees attending to suspected and confirmed patients of coronavirus,” he said.

representative of junior doctors said government needs to hire services of doctors from Pakistan Army for purpose.

"We will shut also down services in emergency wards if (corona) kits are t provided to m," Dr Haseeb said.

Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid has declared young doctors’ strike” immature and uncalled for”.

She said government will ensure provision of kits and or protective gear to doctors and nurses treating coronavirus patients and suspected patients.

(AP Photo)