The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 48,091 on Thursday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
Total confirmed cases: 48,091
- Sindh: 18,964
- Punjab: 17,382
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 6,815
- Balochistan: 2,968
- Islamabad Capital Territory: 1,138
- Gilgit-Baltistan: 579
- AJK: 133
Deaths: 1,017
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 351
- Sindh: 316
- Punjab: 297
- Balochistan: 38
- Gilgit-Baltistan: 4
- Islamabad Capital Territory: 10
- AJK: 1
Officials have recorded more than 5 million cases and more than 326,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.
11:20am – Lahore, Pakistan — Less than 50% hospital beds for COVID-19 used
Till now, less than 50% of hospital beds earmarked for the coronavirus infected in Pakistan have been utilised, states a World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
As per the report, dated May 19, Pakistan has set aside 21,085 beds in public hospitals across the country for patients of the novel virus. Of these, 9,919 have been occupied, which comes to nearly 47% of the total.
Furthermore of the hospitalised, nearly 4% are in critical condition.
The total number of confirmed cases in Pakistan, as of Thursday, is 46,915. While, the virus has killed 1,003 people.
Since some patients are housed in hospitals, a large majority, around 20,000 have been isolated in home or at designated isolation facilities, the report adds.
Last week, Punjab allowed asymptomatic patients of the virus to self-isolate at home, provided that government officials regularly check on them to ensure that proper safety guidelines are being followed. After which, 475 applications for home isolation have now been accepted in the province, according to the daily situation report of Punjab’s primary and secondary healthcare department.
10:25am – Islamabad, Pakistan — Cabinet to review coronavirus situation in country
Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a special meeting of the federal cabinet to review the coronavirus situation in the country.
9:45am – Balochistan govt shares video on instructions, guidelines to follow during pandemic
#DGPR#A_PULICE_SERVIC_MASSAGE
— Govt. of Balochistan (@dpr_gob) May 21, 2020
The war against Covid-19 is not finished yet as SMART LOCKDOWN is extended. The Instructions and guidelines in the video regarding precautions may protect us & our beloveds from suffering and anguish of #coronavirus @jam_kamal @spurlai_watan pic.twitter.com/kXJX1ClQBZ
9:25am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Confirmed cases jump past 48,000 as Islamabad, AJK report new cases
Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 48,091 on Thursday after new cases were detected in Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
According to the national dashboard, 97 new cases were recorded in Islamabad while 15 new cases were reported in AJK.
Punjab leads the tally in the country with the highest number of infection 17,382, followed by Sindh 18,964. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 6,815 cases, Balochistan 2,968, Islamabad 1,235, 579 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 148 in AJK.
09:25pm/May 20 — Karachi, Pakistan — Trader seeks extension in business hours for Eid shopping
Prominent businessman and a leader of the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Siraj Qasim Teli on Wednesday slammed the Sindh government for not extending shop timings in the metropolis.
In a statement, Teli said the Supreme Court order has not stopped the provincial government from allowing shops to remain open till sehri. “We don’t understand the logic behind closing Karachi’s shops while the whole country is open.”
“The traders are suffering due to the politicking of Sindh and federal governments,” he said.
Teli urged the provincial authorities to let them do business for extended hours till Eid.
08:50pm/May 20 — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran calls for ‘pick up’ of poor countries with debt relief
Prime Minister Imran Khan, in an online session of the World Economic Forum (WEF), called upon the developed countries to provide debt relief to poorer nations that were struggling to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
“The experience of the developed world is completely different to what we are facing in the developing world. Countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh — specifically the Indian subcontinent — our experience is somewhat different”
“The speed at which COVID-19 [the disease caused by the novel coronavirus] spread in Europe and the United States, we’re not experiencing the same sort of speed.
“On the other hand, we are still facing rising number of cases and we still haven’t reached our peak here” in Pakistan, he added.
08:45pm/May 20 — Islamabad, Pakistan — Role of religious leaders vital in raising awareness: says PM
Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the religious leaders to play their role in creating awareness about adopting safety measures against coronavirus.
He expressed these views in a meeting with Central Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for Religious Affairs Pir Syed Habib Irfani and other Ulema in Islamabad today.
The Prime Minister said the government believes in holding consultation with Ulema and religious leaders on all matters of importance.
