Coronavirus updates, April 10: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide tally of confirmed cases nears 4,800, UK sees greatest daily death toll of 958 on Friday; global coronavirus deaths top 100,000
Updated Friday Apr 10 2020
KARACHI / LAHORE / ISLAMABAD / PESHAWAR / QUETTA: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 4,792 on Friday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 11:15pm, April 10, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 4,792
• Sindh: 1,214
• Punjab: 2,336
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 656
• Balochistan: 220
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 118
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 215
• AJK: 33
Deaths: 71
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 25
• Sindh: 22
• Balochistan: 2
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
• Punjab: 18
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 1
Officials have recorded more than 1.6 million cases and as many as 100,661 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.
Read on for the latest updates from Pakistan and around the world
Disclaimer: There may be some discrepancy in the number of confirmed cases reported at the country level due to differences in figures quoted by federal and provincial authorities.
Geo News is constantly gathering fresh information from concerned authorities and striving to keep our readers up to date with the most accurate information available.
Orange: General updates coming in from Pakistan
Red: Reports on new cases in Pakistan
Maroon: Reports on new deaths in Pakistan
Green: Reports on recovered patients in Pakistan
END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR APRIL 10
Live updates for April 11 to continue here.
12:25am (April 11) — Paris, France — Global coronavirus death toll tops 100,000
More than 100,000 people have died worldwide from the coronavirus, with nearly 70% of all fatalities in Europe, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.
A total of 100,661 people have been killed, including 70,245 in Europe, since the virus first emerged in China in December.
Italy has the highest number of deaths with 18,849, followed by the United States with 17,925 and 15,843 in Spain.
The figures were compiled by AFP using official government data and World Health Organisation statistics.
12:19am (April 11) — Peshawar, Pakistan — ENT doctor at Hayatabad Medical Complex tests positive for virus
An ENT specialist, Dr Prof Javed, who works at the Hayatabad Medical Complex has tested positive for the virus.
The development has been confirmed by the president of the KP wing of the Young Doctors Association, Dr Rizwan.
Dr Rizwan has sounded the alarm that "Dr Javed's lungs have lost 70% of their function".
12:10am (April 11) — Islamabad, Pakistan — Special PIA plane carrying equipment arrives from China
11:15pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP health minister reports 3 more deaths as tally hits 656
According to KP health minister Taimur Khan Jhagra, three more deaths have occurred in the province, with the total number of cases rising to 656, up 36 from the previous 620.
There have been 25 deaths from the virus in the province so far and 131 have recovered.
11:06pm — Lahore, Pakistan — 'Support us by staying indoors,' says Punjab CM as tally rises to 2,336
10:43pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM urges those with experience in medicine to register in 'Tiger' force
Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked all those who have registered for the Corona Relief Tigers force and has requested more applications from those who have experience in the fields of health or medicine.
Earlier in the day, it was announced that the registration is being extended to April 15.
10:30pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Hammad Azhar lauds SBP's 'excellent' concessional financing schemes
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar has lauded State Bank of Pakistan's "excellent schemes" which provide companies and businesses concessional financing so they may support their employees during lockdown.
"The government will be announcing further schemes in the near future to allow businesses and SMEs to revive and get back on their feet," he said.
10:13pm — Ankara, Turkey — Turkey coronavirus deaths pass 1,000: minister
More than 1,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus in Turkey, according to the health minister, as 4,747 new cases were recorded, reports AFP.
Fahrettin Koca shared the latest figures in an image on Twitter, showing 98 more people had died in the last 24 hours, pushing the total death toll to 1,006. With the new cases of COVID-19, Turkey has officially recorded a total of 47,029 people with the virus.
10:03pm — New Mexico, US — Cell phone data being used to create social distancing models
9:57pm — Seoul, South Korea — Coronavirus patients testing positive again
South Korean officials on Friday reported 91 patients thought cleared of the new coronavirus had tested positive again, Reuters reported .
Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), told a briefing that the virus may have been “reactivated” rather than the patients being re-infected.
9:55pm — Lahore, Pakistan — CM Buzdar summons report of mismanagement during distribution of funds
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar summoned reports of mismanagement at Multan and Rajanpur during distribution of coronavirus relief funds which resulted in the death of a woman.
Expressing grief over the demise of the woman, CM Buzdar ordered commissioners of Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan to submit a report of the events that took place.
We must ensure such an event does not take place, he said, adding that agreed upon SOPs should be implemented upon.
09:33pm — London, UK — Daily death toll climbs by record 980: Health minister
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that Britain had recorded 980 deaths from coronavirus in the 24-hour period since the last report, the highest daily toll yet.
It brings the total number of fatalities from COVID-19 in UK hospitals to nearly 8,000, while the number of confirmed cases inside the country climbed to more than 65,000.
09:06pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Zulfi Bukhari thanks Pakistani donor in Japan for Rs35 million
Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, the prime minister's aide on overseas Pakistanis, has shown appreciation for an 'Overseas Corona Tiger' who has donated Rs35 million to the premier's relief fund for coronavirus affectees.
"I respect his request to keep his identity off media but this goes on to show the love our diaspora holds for Pakistan," he wrote.
08:37pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Govt provides easy access to essential food items with mobile grocery stores
Mobile grocery stores by Utility Stores will now provide access to essential food items as they dot the streets of Islamabad.
Asad Umar, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative, inaugurated the first store in Islamabad. More stores will soon open across the country, he said.
08:34pm — Italy uses drones to detect who has COVID-19
08:19pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP govt extends public holidays till April 18
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced an extension in public holidays from April 13 to April 18.
The announcement does not apply to essential services.
08:02pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Domestic flights between Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to resume: CAA
According to a notice issued by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) flight operations have been allowed by the government to resume "between three airports at initial stage", namely, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports.
The authority has warned that all private aircrafts must strictly adhere to health safety measures before, during and after flights.
07:51pm — Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan — GB reports 14 more recoveries
The region's health department has reported an increase in recovered patients, reported as 111 a day earlier, to 125.
07:45pm — New York, USA — Salman Ahmed pays tribute to frontline workers combating virus in Pakistan
07:32pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — 'Tiger' force's registration extended by five days
Registration for the Coronavirus Relief Tigers force has been extended by five days, according to a government notification.
With the extension, people can now sign up for the force till April 15.
So far more than 850,000 people have registered for the force.
07:19pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP health minister thanks YDA for contributing to fight against virus with telemedicine centre
06:54pm — Frankfurt, Germany — Minister criticises US response as too slow
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has criticised the United States’ handling of the coronavirus outbreak as too slow, the latest sign of tensions between the two allies as they respond to the crisis, Reuters has reported.
China took “very authoritarian measures, while in the US, the virus was played down for a long time,” Maas said in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine in a preview sent to the media on Friday.
“These are two extremes, neither of which can be a model for Europe,” he said.
Germany was among countries that last week accused the United States of “Wild West” tactics in outbidding or blocking shipments to buyers who had already signed deals for vital medical supplies.
6:39pm — Ecuador inmates build coffins for coronavirus victims
6:15pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab CM says PM Imran doing a live telethon, urges Pakistanis to donate
5:21pm — London, United Kingdom — British PM Johnson in 'very good spirits' after leaving intensive care: spokesman
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in “very good spirits” after returning to a hospital ward from intensive care but his recovery is at an early stage, his spokesman said on Friday.
“The prime minister is back on a ward and continuing his recovery which is at an early stage. He continues to be in very good spirits,” the spokesman told reporters.
“The PM is just beginning his recovery and he will be taking his advice from his medical team,” the spokesman said when asked when the British leader would return to work.
“I was told he was waving his thanks to all of the nurses and doctors that he saw as he was moved from the intensive care unit back to the ward. The hospital said that he was in extremely good spirits last night.”
5:18pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Balochistan hospitals to receive more PPEs for health professionals
In a bid to ensure safety of doctors while treating coronavirus patients, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) dispatched more Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for doctors in Balochistan on Friday.
According to the NDMA spokesperson, the supplies include 5000 surgical and 324 N-95 masks, 615 protective suits, 4610 surgical gloves, 235 sterile gowns and 292 shoe covers.
Moreover, 319 surgical caps and 83 face shields are also provided to the health professionals, he added.
The NDMA official also notified that additional supplies for hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhuwah are already dispatched.
The NDMA Chairman Lt General Muhammad Afzal stated that emergency measures are being taken to deliver medical supplies to doctors and paramedical staff, however, additional supplies will be delivered to all hospitals across the country in next two days.
Large quantities of supplies are being purchased from China, he said, adding that a 777 aircraft carrying medical equipment from China reached Pakistan today.
“We are trying our best to meet the demands of provinces by sending supplies to provincial and regional disaster management authorities” he added.
5:16pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Engineering body restores 150 out of order ventilators: Fawad
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry stated that Pakistan engineering institution has restored 150 out of order ventilators.
The minister in tweet announced that private hospitals can get their out of order ventilators fixed for free of cost if they assure them to provide the ventilator free of cost to corona patients.
Read more here.
4:43pm — Zurich, Switzerland — Swiss coronavirus death toll passes 800, positive tests top 24,000
The Swiss death toll from coronavirus has reached 805, the country’s public health ministry said on Friday, rising from 756 people on Thursday.
The number of positive tests also increased to 24,308, up from 23,574 on Thursday, it said.
4:36pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — ‘Another shipment of supplies from China has reached Islamabad’
Another shipment of goods purchased by National Development Management Authority (NDMA) from China reached Islamabad, said NDMA spokesperson on Friday.
The supplies, which include 2000 test kits, 50 mobile X-ray machines, were purchased with a $ 50 million grant received from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) and Asian Development Fund (ADB), the spokesman stated.
The supplies also include 100,000 N-95 masks and about 10,000 surgical gowns for the doctors and paramedical staff fighting the virus in the hospitals, he added.
However, the official also notified that other goods, that include screening kits, ICU ventilators, have also been purchased by NDMA.
“National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) plays an integral role in ensuring quick transfer of funds for coronavirus relief programme,” he added.
4:31pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — CJP takes suo motu notice of coronavirus situation
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad has taken a suo motu notice of the measures being taken by the government to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The CJP issued notices to the attorney general, health secretary, interior secretary, chief secretaries of all the provinces and advocate generals of all the provinces.
A five-member larger bench, headed by CJP Ahmad, is expected to hear the case on April 13.
Read more here.
4:25pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Plane carrying Chinese aid arrives
Southern China plane carrying aid from China arrived in Islamabad, airport sources confirmed on Friday.
The sources added that the aid will be taken off the plane after it has been sprayed with a disinfectant
4:16pm — Peshawar, Pakistan —PM Imran Khan visits Ehsaas Programme distribution point
4:11pm — Chinese province Jiangsu sends aid for Punjab
4:08pm - Paris, France —French army reports 50 COVID-19 cases aboard aircraft carrier
Fifty crew members aboard France’s flagship aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the armed forces ministry said on Friday.
In a statement, it added that three sailors had been preventively evacuated by air to a military hospital in Toulon, southern France, home port of the carrier.
4:06pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — FM Qureshi telephones South Korean counterpart
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha to discuss the adverse effects of coronavirus in their respective regions.
Thanking South Korea for taking care of Pakistani students in the foreign land, FM Qureshi apprised his South-Korean counterpart that Pakistan has proposed to restructure debts that it owes to developed countries.
Both countries concurred on the fact that global cooperation is essential to tackle the current pandemic and agreed to continue the consultation process inorder to devise plans that will be beneficial for both nations in the time of crisis.
4:05pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — PM to decide on future course of action on April 12
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives stated that they will present the future course of action regarding the coronavirus to Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 12. He added that the proposal would then be put forward to the National Coordination Committee on April 13.
The minister added that the NCC will also be briefed on the Pakistan Engineering councils ventilator designs.
4:02pm - Gilgit Baltistan government extends lockdown by a week
3:38pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Country's tally of positive cases rises to 4,699
Nationwide tally of confirmed cases rose to 4,700 after one new case was reported in Punjab.
According to provincial government, Punjab's tally now stands at 2280.
3:37pm - Tehran, Iran — Iran's death toll from coronavirus outbreak rises to 4,232
Iran’s total death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak rose to 4,232 on Friday with 122 lives lost in the past 24 hours, according to a health ministry spokesman.
The total number of people diagnosed with the disease increased by 1,972 in the past 24 hours to a total of 68,192, the spokesman, Kianoush Jahanpur, said on state TV, adding that 3,969 people were in critical condition.
Iran is the country most affected by the pandemic in the Middle East. It has recorded a total of 35,465 recoveries from the COVID-19 respiratory disease, he said.
3:34pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Fashion designers Deepak Perwani, Asim Jofa start production of PPEs
3:40pm - Madrid, Spain — Spain sees lowest daily toll in 17 days with 605 deaths
Spain recorded its lowest daily death toll from the coronavirus in 17 days, with 605 people dying, the government said, according to AFP.
The update raised the overall number of fatalities in Spain to 15,843. The country has suffered one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in the world and has a total of 157,022 cases.
3:30pm - Brussels, Belgium — Coronavirus deaths in country top 3,000
Belgium's death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic has topped 3,000, officials said after the country recorded 496 more deaths in the past 24 hours, AFP reported.
Health authorities said the big jump over previous daily counts included 171 fatalities in retirement homes that took place in the last half of March.
The number pushed the national running total of COVID-19 related deaths to 3,019.
3:02pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — All measures to be taken to protect health workers: PM Imran
Prime Minister Imran Khan told doctors that pressure on them will increase in the coming days, assuring them that all measures will be taken to protect the health workers.
“Trends show that this virus will expand and I assure you all that the government is focused on protecting the community,” PM Imran told doctors in Peshawar.
Read more here.
2:57 - Islamabad, Pakistan — Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani pens down condolences to Czech Republic over corona deaths
Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani on Friday wrote a letter to Czech Republic's Senate President Milos Vystrcil expressing deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives that were lost while battling out the coronavirus.
While extending all kinds of support to the country, Sanjrani communicated that Pakistan stands with Czech Republic in these times of crisis.
There are over 5000 cases with 113 deaths reported in Czech Republic so far.
2:56pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Female SHO injured after residents pelt stones at police
Stone pelting on the police by residents of Karachi’s Orangi Town area left a female station house officer injured after they tried to stop people from gathering for Friday prayers.
2:50pm - PPP Senator claims centre has not provided testing kits to Sindh
Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Sherry Rehman has claimed that despite the announcements by the federal government the Sindh government is yet to receive a test kit from the centre.
The senator claimed that the government has not arranged cargo flights to bring in testing kits from abroad. She urged the federal government to cooperate with the provinces regarding the testing kits.
2:46pm - Lahore, Pakistan — 25 people take part Firday prayers at Badshahi Mosque
Close to 25 people took part in the Friday prayers at Lahore’s Badshahi mosque with a three feet distance among each person.
2:38pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab govt planning package for journalists: minister
Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan announced that any journalist passing away due to coronavirus will be given a fund of Rs1 million. He added if a jounrlist is test positive for the virus then they will be given Rs100,000 in funds.
The minister also announced that a summary of giving a 16% provincial tax break to the media houses has been submitted to Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
2:30pm - Javed Afridi to donate more medical aid next week
2:15pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab govt ensuring provision of aid to coronavirus affectees: Governor Punjab
Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar, along with Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid, on Friday announced that the provincial government is ensuring the organised provision of aid to the coronavirus affectees in the province.
While talking to media, the provincial minister said that people are donating masks and sanitisers as their gesture to help in the time of crisis.
Meanwhile, the provincial health minister Yasmin Rashid maintained that the authorities are trying level best to curb the spread of virus, adding that the virus is still not completely eradicated from China although it reported its first case back in December, last year.
“We are extracting plasma from the blood of recovered patients after testing them twice as a precautionary measure”, she said, emphasising that lockdowns seem the only effective way to stem the rapid spread of the virus.
2:12pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab IG orders officials to ramp up action against Section 144 violators
Punjab Inspector General Shoaib Dastagir instructed officials to ramp up their action against those violating Section 144 in the province.
Through a video link, Punjab’s top cop also told officials that the law enforcement agency will continue its relief work under police relief fund. He instructed officials to ensure that rations are sent to the needy families.
2:00pm - Manila,Philippines — Country records 18 more deaths, 119 new cases
The Philippines’ health ministry on Friday reported 18 more coronavirus deaths and 119 new infections.
The death toll in the Southeast Asian country has reached 221, while confirmed cases totalled 4,195.
Sixteen more patients have recovered, bringing total recoveries to 140, the ministry said in a bulletin.
1:56pm - Washington DC, USA —US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ‘amazed’ by work of Pakistani scholar in Skardu
1:54pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP govt issues directives regarding exam results in the province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Education Minister Akbar Ayub Khan issued directives regarding exam results in schools of KP on Friday.
The provincial minister instructed District Education Officers (DEOs) to ensure the announcement of results in schools that have completed their examinations.
New books should be provided to all students, the minister said, adding that the students should be given homework for holidays.
“Avoid gatherings of more than 5 students,” Khan stated while instructing the officials to devise a plan to deliver results, homework and books to every child at home.
1:49pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — PM Imran visit Hayatabad Medical Complex
Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar to monitor the steps being taken by the Kyber Pakhtunkhwa government to control the spread of coronavirus in the province.
During the visit, the PM was also briefed in detail regarding the steps taken and the upcoming plan of KP government to tackle the pandemic.
1:44pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Country's tally of positive cases rises to 4,699
Nationwide tally of confirmed cases rose to 4,699 after one new case was reported in Balochistan.
According to provincial government spokesperson, Balochistan's tally now stands at 220.
1:37pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Nationwide recovery of rises to 736
Total number of recovered patients in Pakistan rose to 736 after more people recovered from the virus in SIndh.
According to CM Murad Ali Shah, the provincial tally of recovered patients rose to 358 after 9 people recovered from the virus.
1:37pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Pakistan's death tally rrises to 68
Pakistan's death toll from the infection rose to 68 after one new death was reported in Sindh.
According to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, the latest fatality was his brother in law.
1:37pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Nationwide tally of confirmed cases rises to 4,698
Nationwide tally of confirmed cases rose to 4,698 after new cases were reported in Sindh.
According to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, there were 86 new cases in were found in the province.
1:23pm - Karachi, Sindh — SHC rejects petition filed for holding Friday prayer congregations
Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday rejected the petition filed for holding congregations for Friday prayers, while justifying provincial government’s measures to curb the virus spread in the province.
“Sindh government did not ban Friday prayers, it directed lowering of population in religious gatherings”, said Additional Advocate General Jawad Dero, adding that the government has taken steps to protect people’s lives from coronavirus.
“Up to 3-5 people are allowed to attend Friday prayers in mosque”, he informed the court.
12:51pm - Moscow, Russia — Russia reports new record daily rise of coronavirus cases
Russia reported 1,786 more coronavirus cases on Friday, its largest daily rise so far, which took the national tally of confirmed infections to 11,917.
The number of coronavirus-related deaths rose by 18 to 94, the Russian coronavirus crisis response center said in a statement.
12:47pm - Islamabad, Pakistan Ministry of Human Rights issues guideline for old people
12:42pm - Trucks being allowed to enter through Torkham border after being sprayed with chlorinated water
12:31pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Govt has created a better package for citizens, SHC told
The provincial government informed the Sindh High Court that it has created a better package for the citizens.
The Sindh government told the court that package will be finalised in a couple of days. The SHC was informed of the government’s plans while hearing a petition seeking an increase in the relief package that has been announced by Sindh.
Advocate general Sindh told the court that it will be informed about the details of the package after it has been finalized. Upon hearing this the court adjourned the hearing till April 16.
12:22pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — NDMA dispatches medical equipment to Balochistan
12:04pm - Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand reports 50 new coronavirus cases, 1 new death
Thailand reported 50 new coronavirus cases and the death of a 43-year-old woman on Friday.
Of the new cases, 27 are linked to previous cases and eight who are waiting for investigation into how they caught the disease, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman of the government’s Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration
Three of the new cases were imported, Wisanuyothin said.
Since the outbreak escalated in January, Thailand has reported a total of 2,473 cases and 33 fatalities, while 1,013 patients have recovered and gone home.
11:39am - Quetta, Pakistan — 13 more recover from coronavirus in Balochistan
Balochistan's Health department says 13 more recover from coronavirus in the province.
11:35am - Roger Federer shares special message for health workers
11:24am - Bahawalpur, Pakistan — Four arrested for frauding people under Ehsaas programme
Police in Bahawalpur arrested four people for not providing the cash disbursement despite taking signatures and thumb imprints from the people eligible for the cash.
According to the police, they have registered a case against three employees of a private bank for not giving the cash to the people. The police added that 29 CNICs were obtained from the accused.
While another person was arrested for giving Rs11,500 to a woman instead of giving the Rs12,000.
Read more here.
11:19am - Islamabad, Pakistan — IHC asks banks not to harass people on installments
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah ordered banks to not to harass citizens till the hearing of the case related to the instalments of private banks is resolved.
The IHC CJ issued the remarks while hearing a petition seeking the suspension of private bank instalments due to the ongoing coronavirus situation.
“This is not a problem of a single person but it is a collective problem,” remarked Justice Minallah. He directed the finance secretary to appoint an official to submit a report to the court.
10:36am - Frankfurt, Germany — Germany's cases rise by 5,323, deaths by 266: RKI
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Germany rose by 5,323 in the past 24 hours to 113,525 on Friday, climbing for a fourth straight day after four previous days of declines, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed.
The reported death toll rose by 266 to 2,373.
10:33am - Peshawar, Pakistan — PM to visit Peshawar today
Prime Minister Imran Khan will arrive in Peshawar today for a one-day visit to review the coronavirus situation in the province.
According to the ruling party’s twitter account, the PM will get a briefing from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government regarding the steps being taken to stop the spread of the virus in the province. The PM will also visit the Hayatabad Medical Complex.
The party also stated that PM will also visit an Ehsaas programme’s cash distribution centre set up in the provincial capital.
10:20am — Sanaa, Yemen — First coronavirus case reported in war-torn country
Yemen reported its first case of coronavirus in a southern province under the control of the government, the supreme national emergency committee for COVID-19 said, according to AFP.
“The first confirmed case of coronavirus has been reported in Hadramout province,” the committee, which belongs to the internationally recognised government, said.
10:15am — Muzaffargarh, Pakistan — Punjab doctor lightens the mood in virus isolation ward
10:05am — Tokyo, Japan — Olympic dreams on hold for Japan volunteers, hosts
Japanese Olympic volunteer Ami Endo has dreamed for years of seeing the Games, but despite her crushing disappointment over Tokyo 2020 being postponed, she is determined to be part of next year's edition.
It's a "once-in-a-lifetime event," the 19-year-old university student told AFP not long after Games were postponed by a year over the coronavirus pandemic.
Endo isn't even considering joining fellow students in getting a summer job next year, determined to volunteer for the postponed Games. "I'll gain something that money can't buy," she said.
9:30am — Karachi, Pakistan — Restrictions on prayer congregations to be strictly enforced: Shah
Sindh Minister for Information Nasir Hussain Shah on Friday morning said that the restrictions on congregational prayers across the province will be strictly enforced for Friday prayers.
Shah requested that people pray at their homes and limit their movements outside from 12pm to 3pm in the afternoon.
