Pakistan's health minister tests positive for COVID-19

Pakistan's health minister Dr Zafar Mirza said on Monday that he was tested positive for vel coronavirus, becoming latest senior minister in country to be hit by dely virus.

Mirza, special assistant to prime minister on health services, said that he was experiencing "mild symptoms" and was taking all precautions.

"I have tested positive for COVID-19. Under med vice I have isolated myself at home & taking all precautions. I have mild symptoms. Please keep me in your kind prayers," tweeted Mirza.

He urged his colleagues to keep up good work. "You (colleague) are making a big difference and I am proud of you," he said.

Mirza h been at forefront of government's response to pandemic and briefed media on a daily basis about situation.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that he has tested positive for coronavirus disease and quarantined himself.

Qureshi is Vice President of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and considered as number two in government after Prime Minister Imran Khan Several Pakistani lawmakers contracted dely virus and some of m have also died.

Prominent political leers who have contracted virus so far include National Assembly Speaker As Qaiser, Leer of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Sindh Goverr Imran Ismail, PPP leer Saeed Ghani and Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, all of whom have recovered.

Former Balochistan goverr Syed Fazal Agha, PTI Punjab lawmaker Shaheen Raza, Sindh Minister for Human Settlements Ghulam Murtaza Baloch, lawmaker Munir Khan Orakzai and PTI's Mian Jamshedud Din Kakakhel are among politicians who died after contracting virus.

Pakistan's coronavirus tally has crossed 231,000-mark with 4,762 deaths.