Corona death toll rises to 145

Ag Agencies

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 7,741 on Saturday with the death toll soaring to 145.

Out of 7,741 confirmed cases, 2,355 were reported from Sindh, 3,465 from Punjab, 1,077 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 376 from Balochistan, 163 from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 257 from Gilgit-Baltistan, and 48 from the AJK.

Out of 145 deaths, 50 were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 48 from Sindh, five from Balochistan, three from Gilgit-Baltistan, 37 from Punjab, and two from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Globally more than 2.3 million cases have been recorded and more than 158,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.

Meanwhile, the devastations by the novel coronavirus continued in Punjab, as five more people fell victim to the dreaded virus on Saturday, bring the death toll to 41 and increased the number of confirmed cases to 3,465 with the addition of 258 new cases. Out of the 41 patients, who died of coronavirus in Punjab so far, 18 died in Lahore, nine in Rawalpindi, six in Multan, two each in Rahim Yar Khan and Gujrat and one each in Bahawalpur, Jhelum, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh.

According to an earlier report, of 113 new cases, 91 were common citizens and 22 were the members of Tableeghi Jamaat, according to a daily report issued by the Corona Monitoring Room of Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SH) Department, Punjab.

Out of total confirmed Covid-19 patients, 1,494 are preachers of Tableeghi Jamaat, 701 pilgrims who recently returned from Iran, 94 prisoners in five districts and 1,338 citizens who either had travel history or fell victim to local transmission. Of 1,374 confirmed COVID-19 preachers, 577 were reported from Raiwind Markaz, 121 from Sargodha, 119 from Multan, 62 from Bhakar, 61 from Muzaffargarh, 45 from Rahim Yar Khan, 41 from Jhelum, 39 from Bahawalpur, 37 from Vehari, 35 from Hafizabad, 31 from Layyah, 23 from Khushab, 22 from Narowal, 19 from Sialkot, 18 from Faisalabad, 17 each from Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Mandi Bahauddin, 16 from Rawalpindi, 12 from Sheikhupura, 10 each from Gujrat and Gujranwala, nine from Rajanpur, seven each from Mianwali and Sahiwal and two from Nankana Sahib. Out of 701 confirmed patients from amongst pilgrims, 457 were reported from Multan, 221 from Dera Ghazi Khan and 23 from Faisalabad.

Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association (YDA), Pakistan, General Secretary Dr Salman Kazmi, however, criticized the Health Department for categorizing the data of coronavirus patients on the basis of their sects, which he observed was creating sectarian stigmatization of the patients. He said the Health Department’s daily list of patients segregates the patients in categories of Tableeghi Jamaat, Zaireen from Iran and local citizens, which was a wrong policy and is tantamount to promoting sectarian discrimination. “The government must identify the patients with their cities, which will not just end sectarian discrimination but also help the government make effective policies to fight coronavirus,” he added.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Lahore, also drew the government’s attention towards apathetic and inhuman treatment of bodies of Covid-19 patients, which not just desecrates the bodies but also hurts the emotions of the families of the deceased. “The PMA, therefore, demands that the government make a policy for handing over of the bodies or holding the burial in accordance with religious injunctions and in the light of scientific recommendations,” said Dr Shahid Malik, general secretary of PMA, Lahore.

So far, 1,338 citizens have been tested positive for the virus from across the province. These people either have a travel history or they got infected through local transmission.

The highest number of cases has been reported from Lahore where 548 patients are under treatment at different centres. As many as 149 patients were reported from Gujrat, 140 from Rawalpindi, 63 from Gujranwala, 56 from Sialkot, 44 from Rahim Yar Khan, 36 from Faisalabad, 35 from Vehari, 33 from Jhelum, 31 from Multan, 21 from DG Khan, 18 from Nankana Sahib, 15 from Sargodha, 13 from Sheikhupura, 12 each from Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin, 11 from Mianwali, 10 from Kasur, eight each from Bahawalnagar and Chiniot, seven from Bahawalpur, six from Jhang, four each from Chakwal and Khushab, three from Lodhran, two each from Toba Tek Singh, Attock and Khanewal and one each from Pakpattan, Layyah and Okara.

Out of 91 COVID-19 patients in jails, 59 were reported from Lahore, 14 from Sialkot, nine from DG Khan, seven from Gujranwala and two from Bhakar. As many as 37 prisoners at an isolation centre at the Camp Jail have recovered from the virus. They were shifted back to their cells. The Services Institute of Medical Sciences is managing the isolation ward at the Camp Jail.

The P&SH spokesperson informed that more than 52,500 suspected patients have been screened so far out of which 3,504 were tested positive. He said 684 patients have recovered and returned home. He said 18 serious patients are under treatment at High Dependency Units. Those with normal or mild symptoms are at quarantine centres and isolation wards of public sector hospitals. He urged people to stay at home, frequently wash hands and use hand sanitizer.

He advised social distancing and adopting precautionary measures while attending to sick family members.