The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases has risen to 237 after new patients were reported from Sindh and Punjab on Tuesday.
The province-wide break up of cases as of 6:45pm is as follows:
- Sindh - 172
- Punjab - 26
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 15
- Balochistan - 16
- Islamabad Capital Territory - 2
- Gilgit Baltistan - 5
Globally, 162 countries have been affected, more than 7,000 people have died and more than 184,000 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories.
The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.
According to the health ministry, the new cases were reported in the northeastern Punjab, southern Sindh and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces.
"The total number of people affected by corona virus in Sindh has reached 146. Out of this, 119 are Zaireen [pilgrims] who are being kept in Sukkur, 26 are in Karachi & 1 is in Hyderabad," Murtaza Wahab, a provincial government spokesman in Sindh, said in a tweet.
Total number of ppl affected by corona virus in Sindh has reached 146. Out of this, 119 are Zaireen who are being kept in Sukkur, 26 are in Khi & 1 is in Hyd. This exponential increase is largely due to the recent inflow of ppl brought in from Taaftaan after a purported qurantine
— SenatorMurtaza Wahab (@murtazawahab1) March 16, 2020
This increase is largely due to the recent inflow of people from Taaftaan after a purported quarantine.
Back on Sunday, Punjab had reported its first case, while the Sindh government had reported 18 new cases (13 from Sukkur and five from Karachi). One new case was also reported from Islamabad.
Globally, 158 countries have been affected, more than 6,500 people have died and more than 170,000 infected by the disease called 'COVID-19' as it spreads rapidly to new territories.
The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.
Read more: Not to panic, take precautions against coronavirus 'voluntarily': PM Imran
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that the novel coronavirus can be curbed if people take precautions "voluntarily" without panicking.
The meeting was also attended by the chief ministers of all four provinces through video link.
The prime minister was briefed on the implementation of the steps which were decided last week during the National Security Committee's meeting.
Read more: 11 new coronavirus cases emerge in Sindh: CM Shah
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said Monday the coronavirus cases in Pakistan would increase in the coming days but advised that there was no need to panic as the provincial government was taking action to contain the infection.
Addressing a press conference a few hours after Sindh reported its 76th case, he said: "The coronavirus cases will increase. However, it is not necessary that everyone has to be brought to the hospital."
The chief minister noted that at least 25 people who were diagnosed with the infection were undergoing treatment in various hospitals of the province. He went on to disclose the travel history of those who were infected with the virus.
"11 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus," Shah said. "According to the information I have received, eight cases [of the coronavirus] in Sindh were originated from Syria," he said.
"Three patients had a travel history to Dubai, three to Iran, and five patients had travelled to Saudi Arabia," he said, adding that the information about Saudi Arabia was not fully confirmed.
Shah said one patient who contracted the virus had travelled to Qatar, while another had gotten infected in Balochistan. "Only five cases of local transmission of the infection have taken place but I think there may be more cases [of local transmission]," he said.
The chief minister lamented that "after shutting down schools people went to sea view" and that he could not "close everything, people also have to play their role".
Prime Minister of Pakistan orders related to coronavirus
Prime Minister Imran Khan orders completion of emergency measures to combat coronavirus
PM Imran Khan has ordered expediting all emergency measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Read more: All educational institutions in Pakistan to remain closed till April 5: NSC
The National Coordination Committee on the Coronavirus is also going to consider closing off Sindh from the rest of Pakistan by sealing its interprovincial borders.
"All decisions taken [in this meeting] have to be implemented without exception," the prime minister ordered. "The nation needs to be updated and informed regarding the coronavirus on a daily basis."
"The public needs to be educated if we are to counter speculation and fake news," he said. "Every person will have to act responsibly in the days ahead."
"I will address the nation soon. We need to fight the coronavirus, not be scared by it."
Coronavirus spread out in all over the world
Saudi Arabia orders closure of all women's salons, parlours
Saudi Arabia has taken new measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, ordering the closure of beauty salons and parlours from today.
Read more: Coronavirus: Saudi airports closed for two weeks from today
A total of 8,398 salons and 2,385 women's parlours will be affected by the decision.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced closure of Saudi airports for international flights for two weeks from Sunday (today) as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
On Saturday, 17 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections were reported in the Kingdom, raising the total to 103 from the 86 on Friday.
Major loss in Iran due to coronavirus
Iran's Ayatollah Hashem Bathayi has died from the coronavirus
Ayatollah Hashem Bathayi, 78, an important religious and political leader, has died after contracting the coronavirus.
He had tested positive for the virus two days ago.
His passing takes the total deaths of Iranian government officials from Covid-19 to 12. The countrywide toll is now 724 dead.
He had tested positive for the virus two days ago.
His passing takes the total deaths of Iranian government officials from Covid-19 to 12. The countrywide toll is now 724 dead.
Read more: Entire government involved in coronavirus fight: Rouhani
President Hassan Rouhani says his entire administration is involved in the fight against a coronavirus outbreak across the country, stressing that all state institutions and officials are, in parallel, doing their utmost to minimize the damage caused by the epidemic to people’s livelihood.
Public Campaign: Control Coronavirus
GO ORGANIC
Organic vegetables have a significantly more diverse bacteria population, especially when eaten raw, since cooking would destroy these good bugs.
Anecdotally, there many benefits from consuming fermented foods and drinks like kimchi, kombucha, kefir and sauerkraut which contain a natural synergy of many different types of yeasts and bacteria.
SUNSHINE
Sunshine is good for immunity and bad for viruses.
One reason that flu is a winter problem is because the influenza virus is transmitted best at cooler temperatures and low humidity.
But there are other reasons for seeking sunshine. Research suggests it makes disease-fighting cells in the skin move faster and work more efficiently.
Sunlight also helps our bodies to make Vitamin D.
The vitamin’s crucial role in immunity is not fully understood but ample levels can help protect against a lengthy list of ailments, including multiple sclerosis, asthma, depression, heart disease and cancer.
COLD SHOWERS!
There’s a growing – albeit still rather small – body of evidence that being cold can benefit our immunity. In the right doses, exposure to cold temperatures can help reduce stress, which can have a detrimental impact on immunity.
It won’t happen straight away but over time, our body can improve its resistance to stress.
Research shows that people who take regular cold showers are almost 30 per cent less likely to call in sick to work than others, due to the improvements in immunity.
PM Imran reviews measures regarding COVID-19
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday chaired a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for COVID-19 and reviewed the measures taken by the government to curb the coronavirus epidemic.
Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbass Bukhari and others were present on the occasion.
All chief ministers also attended the meeting via video link and briefed the prime minister over the measures taken by provincial authorities.
Dr Zafar briefed the participants about the current situation in the country.
