Pakistan reports 1,918 coronavirus cases, total rises to 261,917

Pakistan reported 1,918 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking number of infections in country to 261,917, health ministry said. Out of total infections, 198,509 patients have recovered, while 5,522 people have died of disease. A total number of 57,886 cases are still active, Ministry of National Health Services said.

Sindh reported 111,238 cases, Punjab 89,465, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 31,669, Islamab 14,504, Balochistan 11,405, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 1,840 and Gilgit-Baltistan 1,796 cases, it said.  country's tally of COVID-19 cases reached 261,917 after 1,918 people tested positive for disease.

authorities performed 23,011 coronavirus tests in last 24 hours, taking total number to 16,99,101, it said. In a tweet on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said number of coronavirus cases h gone down in Pakistan and urged people to strictly observe standard operating procedures on upcoming Eid-ul-Azha to prevent spre of virus.

Pakistan is amongst countries where COVID-19 cases in hospitals, especially in intensive care, and death rate have gone down. This positive trend has been result of lockdown policy and nation observing government's standard operating procedures, Khan said. 

 Im: AP