Coronavirus updates, April 22: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide death toll jumps to 212, confirmed cases cross 10,000, 2.5 million infected globally
Updated Wednesday Apr 22 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 10,244 on Wednesday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 11:02pm, April 22, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 10,244
• Sindh: 3,373
• Punjab: 4,590
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,453
• Balochistan: 552
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 194
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 290
• AJK: 51
Deaths: 215
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 83
• Sindh: 69
• Balochistan: 6
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
• Punjab: 51
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 3
Officials have recorded more than 2.5 million cases and more than 177,000 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
LIVE UPDATES
12:15am (April 23) — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP sets up quarantine centre for returnees from Torkham
11:40pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan to host SAARC video conference on COVID-19 tomorrow
11:28pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports seven more deaths, raised tally of 4,590
The Punjab disaster management authority has reported that seven more people have died, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 58.
The province has also seen a surge in cases from 4,331 to 4,590.
11:02pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP reports three deaths, tally shoots up to 1,453
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has reported three more deaths, taking the grim total in the province to 83.
The province also reported a rise in the number of cases to 1,453 since yesterday.
So far, 414 have recovered in the province.
10:04pm — 10 ways to cope up with stress, fear and worry amid coronavirus crisis
Apart from the human tragedy that COVID-19 has unfolded with a surging number of cases, the deadly disease has also led to economic upheaval, soaring numbers of domestic violence and a rise in anxiety overall.
According to an article published by Friday Magazine, here are 10 ways to fightback anxiety and all the heart-rending thoughts that surface during quarantine period:
Read the complete story here.
9:54pm — Pulau Ujong, Singapore — 1,016 more coronavirus cases, 12th death
Singapore’s health ministry confirmed another 1,016 cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the total infections in the Southeast Asian island nation to 10,141, Reuters reported.
It also reported its twelfth death, an 84-year-old female and a Singapore citizen, from the disease. She died on Tuesday night.
The health ministry said most of the cases were among migrant workers living in dormitories, a group that accounts for more than three quarters of the city-state’s infections.
9:50pm — Rome, Italy — Daily coronavirus death toll falls, but new cases climb
Deaths from COVID-19 in Italy climbed by 437, against 534 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new infections increased to 3,370 from 2,729 on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 25,085 the agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States.
The number of confirmed cases was 187,327, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.
People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 107,699 from 107,709 on Tuesday, a third consecutive daily decline.
9:43pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Taleem Ghar providing education to thousands of children amid lockdown
9:36pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran tests negative for COVID-19: SAPM Awan
Prime Minister Imran Khan tested negative for COVID-19, Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan confirmed.
9:30pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran speaks to President Trump
PM Imran spoke to President Trump over the phone to discuss the impact of the coronavirus, according to the White House.
The two leaders discussed the evolving situation and the impact of the infection.
9:20pm — Gilgit, Pakistan — GB reports seven new coronavirus cases
According to the Health Department Gilgit Baltistan, seven new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported today. Two hundred and one people so far have recovered from the infection.
9:15pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — President Alvi says those who violate 20-point agreement with ulema will be committing a sin
Speaking to host Hamid Mir in Geo News' programme Capital Talk, Alvi said the agreement with the religious scholars was Ijma-e-Ummat [consensus of the Muslim community] and that its violation would "be categorised as a sin".
He urged people to practice safety precautions to contain the spread of the coronavirus. President Alvi also announced during the interview that he will be offering Taraweeh prayers at home this Ramazan.
9:00pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Lady Reading Hospital bans media coverage
The Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) has banned media coverage a few hours after the cameraman of a local news channel tested positive for coronavirus. The cameraman is being treated by the hospital.
LRH administration said that ban has been imposed as a precautionary move.
8:53pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran's message regarding telethon
PM Imran recorded a special message for his upcoming telethon to be held tomorrow. The prime minister urged people to join him on the telethon which will be broadcast at 4 pm tomorrow.
8:42pm — Bangkok, Thailand — A month-old baby recovers from COVID-19
8:34pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — NDMA Chairman tests negative for COVID-19
PTI leader and PM’s aide, Shahbaz Gill, said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal had tested negative for COVID-19
8:30pm — NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines advise against drug combo pushed by US President Trump
8:22pm — Quetta, Balochistan — 16 new cases take provincial tally to 552
8:11pm — London, UK — Minister says large-scale contact-tracing to begin as cases fall
British health minister Matt Hancock said on Wednesday the government would bring in large-scale contact-tracing once the number of new cases of the coronavirus falls.
“As we have reached the peak, as we bring the number of new cases down, so we will introduce contact tracing at large scale,” Hancock told parliament.
8:02pm — Stockholm, Sweden — Coronavirus a chance to choose new path: Greta Thunberg
Countries have a chance to choose a new path as societies begin to return to normal after lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, activist Greta Thunberg told an Earth Day event on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Thunberg, who shot to fame as a 15-year-old when she started skipping school on Fridays to protest over carbon emissions outside Sweden’s parliament building, said the outbreak showed the need for long-term thinking.
“Whether we like it not the world has changed, it looks completely different from how it did a few months ago and it will probably not look the same again and we are going to have to choose a new way forward,” she said.
“If one single virus can destroy economies in a matter of weeks, it shows we are not thinking long term and we are not taking these risks into account.”
She was taking part in a streamed event to mark Earth Day, launched 50 years ago to highlight environmental challenges.
7:57pm — Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — 'We're not hiding anything,' says coronavirus-free country
Turkmenistan, one of the few nations in the world that has reported no cases of the new coronavirus, insisted on Wednesday its official data was true and it was not hiding anything, Reuters reported.
“If there was a single confirmed coronavirus case we would have immediately informed ... the World Healthcare Organization in line with our obligations,” Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov told a briefing.
“We are not hiding anything,” he added, speaking alongside United Nations officials.
Healthcare Minister Nurmukhammed Amannepesov told the same briefing the Central Asian nation had 30,000 test kits at its disposal and was ordering 40,000 more from Russia, Turkey and Germany.
7:51pm — Peshawer, Pakistan — KP tests 833 people to mark highest daily total
7:48pm — Berlin, Germany — Confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 2,237 to 145,694: RKI
Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 2,237 to 145,694, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday, marking a second consecutive day of new infections accelerating, Reuters reported.
The reported death toll rose by 281 to 4,879, the tally showed.
7:45pm — Pakistan — Testing capacity and functional labs in KP, Balochistan, AJK, GB
7:40pm — Quetta, Balochistan — Over 40 news cases take provincial tally to 536
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said that the province had 40 new confirmed COVID-19 cases taking local transmission infections to 388 and overall provincial tally to 536.
7:37pm — Beijing, China — COVID-19 travel curbs tightened in Harbin
A northeastern city of 10 million people, grappling with what is now China’s biggest coronavirus outbreak, further restricted inbound traffic on Wednesday to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease, Reuters reported.
Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang and its biggest city, has banned entry to residential zones by non-locals and vehicles registered elsewhere, state media said. It had already ordered isolation for those arriving from outside China or key epidemic areas.
Heilongjiang has been in the forefront of China’s latest efforts to identify infected citizens arriving from Russia, with which it shares a border, to curb the spread of the virus.
“All confirmed cases, suspected cases, close contacts of asymptomatic people, and close contacts of close contacts should be quarantined and tested,” state media cited the city government as saying.
7:33pm — Moscow, Russia — Communists defy lockdown with Red Square parade for Lenin's 150th
Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow’s coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin’s tomb to mark 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader, Reuters reported.
Led by Gennady Zyuganov, head of Russia’s Communist Party, a small group of people, some holding red flags, marched to the granite mausoleum where Lenin’s embalmed body lies to pay their respects.
The ritual, which is observed annually on April 22, comes with Moscow in its fourth week of a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the new virus.
Muscovites are only allowed outside to buy food or medicine nearby, receive urgent medical treatment, walk the dog or take out the trash.
7:15pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Doctors plead to govt to enforce stricter coronavirus lockdown
A group of Karachi's leading doctors, belonging to the Pakistan Medical Association on Wednesday painted a sobering picture of the on-the-ground realities faced by frontline workers in the fight against the coronavirus.
Urging the government and religious leaders to continue to abide by recommended precautions instead of easing restrictions, they warned a point will come when they will have to choose between one of two patients to save.
Addressing the emergency briefing, Dr Abdul Bari, who is the CEO of Indus Hospital, said that after the lockdown was eased on April 14, doctors had vehemently protested against the decision.
Read complete story here.
7:00pm - Tehran, Iran — Iran says US should focus on saving military from coronavirus
The United States should focus on saving its military from the coronavirus, an Iranian armed forces spokesman said on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to destroy any Iranian gunboats that harass American ships.
“Today, instead of bullying others, the Americans should put all their efforts toward saving those members of their forces who are infected with coronavirus,” Abolfazl Shekarchi said, according to the ISNA news agency.
6:35pm – Rawalpindi, Pakistan — PM Imran visits Red Crescent hospital for coronavirus patients
PM Imran Khan visited the hospital established by Red Crescent in Rawalpindi to treat coronavirus patients.
Chairman red Crescent Pakistan Ibrar-ul-Haq briefed the premier about the steps taken by the organization for the coronavirus patients.
The PM also visited the wards for the coronavirus patients and observed the facilities being provided to them.
Watch: Patient from South Waziristan celebrates recovery
6:20pm – Rawalpindi, Pakistan — COAS lauds NCOC over COVID-19 response
According to ISPR, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa lauded the response of the National Command and Operation Centre to the coronavirus threat in the country.
Earlier, DG Operations and Planning NCOC Maj-Gen Asif Mehmood Goraya briefed the army chief over the implementation of the National Coordination Committee’s decisions and projections of the cases.
6:10pm - Dubai, UAE — UAE, Pakistan chalking out plan for more repatriation flights for Pakistanis
A government source disclosed that the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan are working to add more flights to repatriate Pakistani citizens stranded in the country.
Islamabad last week began repatriating some of Pakistanis from the UAE, which had earlier warned countries refusing to take back nationals stranded by the coronavirus pandemic that it could review labour ties.
Read more here.
6:00pm - Washington, US — Trump says US states safely reopening despite warnings of virus resurgence
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that U.S. states are safely starting to reopen businesses, even as some public health officials warned that relaxing restrictions too quickly could trigger a new surge in cases of the coronavirus.
“States are safely coming back. Our Country is starting to OPEN FOR BUSINESS again. Special care is, and always will be, given to our beloved seniors (except me!),” wrote Trump, 73.
5:40pm - Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia reports 283 new coronavirus infections, 19 deaths
Indonesia reported 283 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 7,418, a health ministry official said.
The official, Achmad Yurianto, said there were 19 new coronavirus deaths, taking the total to 635.
More than 47,300 people have been tested and 913 had recovered, he said.
5:25pm- Karachi, Pakistan — Traders arrested after opening shops in Karachi's timber market
Traders opened shops in the city's timber market on Wednesday, after which police arrived in the area to shut them down due to the ongoing lockdown in the province.
Trader community leader Hammad Poonawala and others gave their arrest in protest. Police and traders continued negotiation over the reopening of shops in the timber market.
5:15pm- Islamabad, Pakistan — Next three to four weeks 'critical' for Pakistan, says Dr Zafar Mirza
The next three to four weeks are very critical for Pakistan, said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Wednesday, as he briefed the media about the continuing impact of the coronavirus in the country.
"In the last 24 hours, we have received the highest number of deaths from COVID-19, 17, for the third time in Pakistan," he said, addressing an event held at the Ministry of Health's office. "The coming three to four weeks will be critical for Pakistan."
5:00pm- Karachi, Pakistan — CM Sindh orders walk-through and drive-through tests in South district
CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has ordered walk-through and drive-through tests in Karachi’s South district.
The drive-through tests began at Bin Qasim area, falling under the district. The CM Sindh urged public to keep in view social distancing in every situation.
4:40pm - Stockholm, Sweden — Tackle coronavirus and climate crisis together, says activist Greta Thunberg
People need to tackle both the coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis together, Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg told an Earth Day event on Wednesday.
Thunberg, who shot to fame as a 15-year-old when she started skipping school on Fridays to protest outside Sweden’s parliament building over carbon emissions, said that concerted actions to tackle the outbreak of the coronavirus did not mean the climate crisis had gone away.
Watch: Ramazan preparations underway in Pakistan amid pandemic
4:20pm- Brussels, Belgium — EU 'misunderstandings' delay deal on coronavirus economic recovery
It may take European Union countries until the summer or even longer to agree on how exactly to finance an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as major disagreements persist, an official with the bloc said on Wednesday.
That sets expectations low for a Thursday EU summit at which the bloc’s 27 national leaders are expected to agree to use their 2021-27 joint budget to help kick-start growth. They should also rubber-stamp 500 billion euros of immediate rescue measures that should take effect from June.
4:05pm – Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran’s personal physician says test sample sent to lab
PM Imran’s personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan, in a video message, said that the coronavirus test sample of the prime minister has been sent to the laboratory.
“It will take a few hours, as soon as the result is out we will inform,” he said.
3:55pm - Madrid, Spain — Spain reports 435 coronavirus deaths overnight, bringing total at 21,717
Spain's death toll from the new coronavirus climbed by 435 in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday, roughly in line with the 2% increases reported in the past few days.
The cumulative death toll now stands at 21,717, while the number of confirmed infections rose by 4,211 to 208,389, according to the ministry.
3:40pm - Tehran, Iran — Iran coronavirus death toll rises by 94 to 5,391: health ministry
The death toll from the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Iran rose by 94 in the past 24 hours to 5,391, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Wednesday.
The Islamic Republic has 85,996 diagnosed cases, Jahanpur said.
3:35pm — New Delhi, India — India suspends antibody tests after questions over reliability
India has ordered a pause in testing for antibodies to the coronavirus because of concern over the accuracy, health officials said on Wednesday.
Early this month, health authorities approved blood tests for coronavirus antibodies as a faster way to bolster the screening effort and they ordered more than a half-billion testing kits from China.
But the chief of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr RR Gangakhedkar, said he had asked health authorities to temporarily stop the tests for antibodies because of conflicting results.
"We have advised the states not to use them for the next two days until we come out with an advisory,” he said.
Read more here.
3:30pm — Karachi, Pakistan — CM Sindh expresses concern over rise in Karachi virus cases
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has said the lockdown imposed in the city needs to be strengthened after more cases were reported in the province.
"Sindh has recorded the highest daily increase in the number of confirmed cases today. Most of the cases in Sindh are from Karachi. This is very concerning," Shah said in his statement.
"Three hundred and twenty cases emerged in Sindh today with the number of cases in the provinces standing at 3,373. Local transmission of virus cases is increasing and all of us need to keep our eyes open to this development," he added.
Read more here.
3:20pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Coronavirus will 'hit its peak' in May, June: FM Qureshi
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quershi has warned that the coronavirus is expected to hit a peak in May and June.
Qureshi said Pakistan has not hit its highest level in terms of reported cases for coronavirus so far, but the numbers might climb up in the coming months of May and June.
“We have to formulate our strategies while considering all these factors,” the minister asserted, noting that Pakistan is a poverty-stricken country and cannot survive a lockdown for an extended period.
Read more here.
3:10pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports 3 more cases, nationwide tally rises to 10,072
Punjab on Wednesday reported three more cases to take the nationwide tally of confirmed case to 10,072.
According to data by the primary and secondary health department, the province has reported 4,331 cases so far.
3:05pm — Washington, US — Coronavirus second wave may be even worse: US health chief
A second wave of the novel coronavirus in the US could be even more destructive because it will likely collide with the beginning of flu season, one of the country’s top health officials said Tuesday.
"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an interview with the Washington Post published late Tuesday.
Death toll from coronavirus in Europe passes 110,000
3:00pm — Berlin, Germany — Germany approves first trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Germany has authorised its first clinical test of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, the country´s regulatory body said Wednesday, green-lighting trials on human volunteers for an RNA vaccine developed by German firm Biontech and US giant Pfizer.
"The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut... has authorised the first clinical trial of a vaccine against COVID-19 in Germany," the regulatory body said in a statement.
It added that approval was the "result of a careful assessment of the potential risk/benefit profile of the vaccine candidate".
Global coronavirus cases exceed 2.54mn, death toll crosses 177,000
More than 2.54 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 177,004 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
2:55pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP has increased testing from zero to 1,200 in a little over a month: minister
2:50pm – Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran discusses coronavirus fund telethons with Senator Javed Faisal
PM Imran Khan met with Senator Javed Faisal today, where he discussed the upcoming fundraising telethons in relation to the coronavirus crisis.
PM Imran urged Pakistanis to wholeheartedly support the fundraising to be held on Thursday.2:35pm- New Delhi, India — India battles supply snags in race to build affordable ventilators
Indian medical device makers, racing to churn out ventilators as domestic COVID-19 cases spike, have been beset by supply bottlenecks, cost overruns and labour shortages that are delaying their efforts to produce an affordable device.
Ventilators help patients breathe and are seen as critical given severe COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia and lung damage. Experts warn India may run out of devices as it has fewer than 50,000 and may need 20 times that in a peak infection scenario.
2:25pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — PML-N, MMA submit requisition for NA session on coronavirus situation
The PML-N and Muttahida Majlis–e–Amal submitted a requisition on Wednesday to summon a session of the National Assembly to discuss the response to the coronavirus crisis.
The opposition parties said that they reject the idea of a virtual session. The requisition was signed by 98 lawmakers.
2:05pm – Lahore, Pakistan — No tests results of PM Imran Khan released as yet, says Shahbaz Gill
Former Punjab government spokesperson Shahbaz Gill said that the coronavirus tests results of Prime Minister Imran Khan have not been released yet.
He urged media to not run any ‘unconfirmed news’ regarding his tests, adding that when the results are out they will be shared officially.
1:50pm – Karachi, Pakistan — 50 coronavirus patients recovered in Sindh
As per the breakdown given by Sindh government Spokesperson Murtaza Wahab, 50 coronavirus patients recovered from the disease.
1:45pm – Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh records 320 new positive cases, nationwide tally rises to 10,069
Senator Murtaza Wahab shared the updated statistics today of provincewide coronavirus cases, according to which Sindh recorded 320 new infections.
After which, the nation-wide tally rose to 10,069 cases, while the provincial tally stood at 3,373 cases. The province also recorded three deaths within last 24 hours.
1:35pm – Karachi, Sindh — Provincial Health Minister Dr Pechuho says coming days can be more dangerous
Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that the coming days can be more dangerous, adding that if the lockdown is eased then the number of coronavirus cases will rise.
She said that in Sindh, the death toll ratio is 2.2% and the cases can peak at the end of May.1:20pm- Madrid, Spain — Spain aims to phase out coronavirus lockdown in second half of May
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday his government plans to begin winding down the coronavirus lockdown measures in the second half of May.
Restrictions will be eased slowly and gradually to ensure safety, Sanchez said at a parliamentary session where he will ask lawmakers to extend Spain’s state of emergency until May 9.
1:10pm- Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab enforces Prevention of Hoarding ordinance
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar said that from today the province is enforcing the Prevention of Hoarding ordinance against excessive stock-piling of food and other items. The ordinance aims to curb the hoarding of items, which are later sold at higher prices.
12:50pm – Islamabad, Pakistan — FM Qureshi says coronavirus peak expected at end of May, start of June
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the peak of coronavirus cases will likely be seen at the end of May or at the beginning of June in Pakistan.
He said that due to an expansion in testing capacity, 2,000 Pakistanis were repatriated and more than 6,000 will be brought back soon.
“The situation will become clearer with the increase in the ratio of coronavirus tests,” he added.
12:35pm - Istanbul, Turkey — At entrance of mosque, racks loaded with food rations for needy
12:30pm - Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan govt pairs up with trust to distribute free roti
The Balochistan government, along with Bait-ul-Islam Trust, started distributing roti (flat bread) to the poor and needy.
According to an official press release, around 29,316 flat breads were distributed among deserving people.
12:20pm - London, UK — FT analysis estimates UK coronavirus death toll at 41,000
The novel coronavirus outbreak has caused as many as 41,000 deaths in the United Kingdom, according to a Financial Times analysis of the latest data from the statistics office.
The FT extrapolation, based on figures from the ONS that were also published on Tuesday, includes deaths that occurred outside hospitals updated to reflect recent mortality trends.
12:15pm- Beijing, China — 30 new coronavirus cases in mainland China, up from day earlier
Mainland China reported on Wednesday 30 new coronavirus cases, 23 of which were so-called imported cases involving travellers from overseas, up from 11 a day earlier.
The National Health Commission said in a statement the number of new asymptomatic patients, who are infected with the virus but not showing symptoms, also rose to 42 from 37 a day earlier.
12:05pm - Peshawar, Pakistan – 14 doctors test positive for virus
At least 14 doctors have tested positive for coronavirus, documents revealed on Wednesday.
According to the documents, five paramedics and 11 other medical staff have also tested positive for the virus.
“Eleven doctors from Peshawar and one each from Bannu, Mardan and Swat have tested positive for the virus. One doctor from Peshawar is in a critical state,” the documents stated.
The documents further revealed that four of the infected paramedic staff hailed from Peshawar, while one belonged to Shangla
12:00pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — ECC to chalk out strategy for distribution of Rs200 bln package for daily wage labourers
The Economic Coordination Committee will meet today to and chalk out a strategy for the distribution of Rs200 billion relief package for the daily wage labourers, sources told Geo News.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh will chair the meeting of ECC and the ministry for commerce and production will give a briefing on the relief package.
The sources also informed that the ECC will also be presented with a summary for the Rs15 million grant for the healthcare regulatory body.
11:45am - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh govt tells SHC that reduction in fees was done in consultation with private schools association
The Sindh government has informed the Sindh High Court that the 20% reduction in the fees of private schools was done after consulting the Sindh’s Private Schools Association.
The provincial government, in its response submitted to the court in the petition challenging the reduction, stated that the province has 12,000 private schools and dozens of associations.
The PPP-led government informed the court that there has been a 40% reduction in the expenses of the schools due to the lockdown.
The petition filed by the private schools’ association is asking the court to declare the government’s decision as null and void.
11:30 - Islamabad, Pakistan — NCOC finalises arrangements to bring back stranded Pakistanis in Afghanistan through Chaman border
The National Command and Operation Centre announced that it has finalised arrangements for the screening, testing and tracking for the return of Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan through the Chaman border.
The NCOC stated that the Pakistan Railways has sen 30 passenger coaches and two medical coaches to Balochistan. It added that all coaches have medical supplies with them.
NCOC added that at one time 400 patients can be isolated and set up in the makeshift quarantine centre set up in the coaches.
11:15am - Gujranwala, Pakistan — Cases registered against six factory owners for violating lockdown SOPs
The district administration in Gujranwala registered cases against six factory owners for violating the lockdown SOPs.
The deputy commissioner stated that the six factories have been sealed and the cases have been registered against the owners for violating the SOPs set by the government.
11:10am - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab minister assures of providing financial assistance to labourers and daily wage earners
Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Aslam Iqbal has assured that the government will provide financial assistance to the labourers and daily wage earners affected by the lockdown.
The minister, while speaking during the meeting of the task force for financial assistance, stated that the provincial government is compiling the data of unemployed labourers and daily wage earners. He added that the report once compiled will be sent to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Labour and Human Resource Ansar Majeed Khan Niazi, secretary industries and commerce and members of the task force.
10:55am - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP CM to review coronavirus arrangements in Abbottabad, Mansehra
Government officials shared on Wednesday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan will visit Abbottabad and Mansehra.
The officials stated that KP CM will get a briefing from the divisional and district authorities regarding the coronavirus situation in the area. They added that the CM Khan will also review the arrangements at the quarantine and isolation centres.
10:46am - Islamabad, Pakistan — Turkish aircraft arrives with N-95 masks and protective gowns
10:45am - Provincial govt authorises Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad to carry out coronavirus tests, announces KP health minister
10:40am - Peshawar, Pakistan — DC Peshawar says patients are hiding their diagnoses from the authorities
Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar told Geo Pakistan that people are hiding their diagnoses of coronavirus from the authorities.
The DC stated that the authorities are informed of the patient after his or her condition worsens. He added that many coronavirus cases have come from abroad.
The DC assured that it will be ensured that industries that are opening follow the SOPs and urged people not to come out of their homes if it is not needed.
10:26am - Berlin, Germany — Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 2,237 to 145,694
Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 2,237 to 145,694, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday, marking a second consecutive day of new infections accelerating.
The reported death toll rose by 281 to 4,879, the tally showed.
10:24am - Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand reports 15 new coronavirus cases, one new death
Thailand on Wednesday reported 15 new coronavirus cases and one new death, continuing a trend of lower numbers of new cases.
Despite the slowing of new cases, officials remained cautious.
“The lower numbers are a small success ... but we cannot let our guard down,” said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
The new fatality reported on Wednesday was a 58-year-old Thai woman who had diabetes and high-blood pressure as underlying diseases, said Taweesin.
Thailand has a total of 2,826 confirmed cases and 49 deaths.
10:10am — Beijing, China — Life slowly returns to normal after coronavirus crisis
9:55am — Hyderabad, Pakistan — Governor Ismail to visit interior Sindh, review virus situation
Governor Sindh Imran Ismail will on Wednesday visit four districts in interior Sindh and review the coronavirus situation in the areas. The governor will visit Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Matyari and Tando Allahyar.
The deputy commissioners of the areas will brief the governor on the virus situation in their districts and also provide updates on the distribution of cash to under-privileged people under the Ehsaas programme of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
9:40am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Number of confirmed virus cases rise to 9,749
The total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus across Pakistan rose to 9,749 on Wednesday after new infections were confirmed in Islamabad Capital Territory and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Nine new cases were reported ICT and one more from GB, according to an update shared by the National Command and Operations Centre.
9:30am — Karachi, Pakistan — CM Shah to discuss reopening of businesses with federal government: Sindh minister Sheikh
Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Sheikh on Wednesday said that a committee formed by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to recommend the reopening of businesses as the coronavirus lockdown eased has forwarded its advise to CM Shah.
"CM Shah will now discuss the recommendations with the federal government before making a formal decision about the reopening of businesses," Sheikh told Geo Pakistan on Wednesday morning.
