ISLAMABAD: The number of coronavirus-positive infections crossed the 150,000-mark in Pakistan on Wednesday, with the health ministry saying that 136 people had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total fatality count to 2,975.
“With 5,839 new coronavirus infections detected in the last 24 hours, the total tally now stands at 154,760,” excerpts from a statement posted by the ministry on a dedicated COVID-19 portal read.
This is despite Pakistan conducting 950,782 tests since February, including 28,117 in the past 24 hours.
Punjab leads the tally with the maximum number of infections at 58,239, followed by 57,868 in Sindh, 19,107 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 9,242 in Islamabad, 8,437 in Balochistan, 1,164 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 703 in Azad Kashmir.
Meanwhile, authorities began cordoning off high-risk areas or coronavirus hot spots in 20 of the country’s biggest cities – namely Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Swat, Hyderabad, Sukkar, Sialkot, Gujarat, Ghotki, Larkana, Khairpur, DGKhan, Malakand, and Mardan – following an uptick in infections.
The country’s National Command and Control Center said that raids were being carried out to impose fines and shut down markets, industries and shops that were flouting social-distancing rules.
In Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, the G-9/2 and G-9/3 residential areas had been sealed off after more than 300 cases were reported from there.
