Coronavirus updates, May 17: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide death toll crosses 900, confirmed cases near 42,000; global coronavirus deaths exceed 310,000
Updated Sunday May 17 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 41,927 on Sunday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 12:34am, May 18, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 41,927
• Sindh: 16,377
• Punjab: 15,346
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 6,061
• Balochistan: 2,544
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 947
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 540
• AJK: 112
Deaths: 903
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 318
• Sindh: 268
• Balochistan: 36
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 4
• Punjab: 260
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 7
• AJK: 1
Officials have recorded more than 4.6 million cases and more than 310,000 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
END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR MAY 17
Live updates for May 18 to continue here.
12:34am (May 18) — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab reports eight more deaths, 762 new cases
The Punjab disaster management authority has reported eight more deaths, taking the grim total to 260.
A surge in the tally of infected was also reported. With 762 more cases, the total number of cases stands at 15,346.
09:32pm — New Delhi, India — World's biggest lockdown extended to end of May after biggest jump in daily toll
09:27pm — Cairo, Egypt — Egypt tightens measures during celebrations marking Ramadan's end
Egypt has announced a lengthening of its night-time curfew and other measures to prevent large gatherings during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
"All shops, malls, restaurants, entertainment facilities, beaches and public parks will be closed for six days from May 24-29," said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli.
Public transport will be halted and the nationwide curfew in force from 5 pm during that period, he told a Cairo press conference.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, the curfew ran from 9 pm to 6 am.
Egypt has since late March banned prayer gatherings and suspended air traffic among other steps to slow the spread of coronavirus among the country's 100 million people.
The health ministry has so far recorded 11,719 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 612 fatalities.
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09:05pm — Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan launches interest-free loans for daily wage workers affected by lockdown
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani has said that the provincial government has launched an interest-free (qarz-e-hasana) scheme for the financial assistance of daily wage workers who have been affected by the lockdown.
"Easy conditions, easy installments, free of interest," wrote Shahwani.
08:56pm — Hong Kong, China — Hamster tests show masks reduce coronavirus spread: scientists
Tests on hamsters have revealed the widespread use of facemasks reduces transmission of the deadly coronavirus, a team of leading experts in Hong Kong have said.
The research by the University of Hong Kong is some of the first to specifically investigate whether masks can stop symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers from infecting others.
Led by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, one of the world's top coronavirus experts, the team placed hamsters that were artificially infected with the disease next to healthy animals.
Surgical masks were placed between the two cages with air flow travelling from the infected animals to the healthy ones.
The researchers found non-contact transmission of the virus could be reduced by more than 60% when the masks were used.
Find out more here.
08:52pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh's cases at a glance
08:21pm — Washington, USA — Trump honours Pakistani-American girl scout for donation to medical workers, fighters
A 10-year-old Pakistan-American girl scout's efforts to raise money for frontline workers have been recognised and appreciated by US President Donald Trump.
Laila Khan donated 100 boxes of cookies to local medical workers and firefighters.
08:17pm — Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir — AJK premier withdraws decision on softening lockdown restrictions
According to a notification issued by the home department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has suspended all exemptions granted earlier under a softening of restrictions in the wake of an "escalating spread of coronavirus in the region and dangerous levels of increase in the number of patients".
It has been notified that the new policy shall come into effect at midnight, May 18 and will remain in effect for the next two weeks.
08:02pm — Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan — Region reports 13 more cases
The Gilgit-Baltistan health department has reported 13 more cases, taking the tally of infected to 540.
On a positive note, 20 more recoveries were reporting, bringing the total number to 368.
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6:30pm — New Delhi, India — India's disaster management authority requests coronavirus lockdown be extended to May 31
India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday requested that a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus be extended to May 31.
The NDMA, that is responsible for setting policy on the lockdown, made its request in a letter to India’s interior ministry, that is expected to issue detailed guidelines on the lockdown later on Sunday.
6:25pm — Moscow, Russia — Russia's virus spread stabilising: top health official
The growth of new coronavirus cases in Russia is stabilising, a top health official said Sunday as the daily tally fell under 10,000 for the third time this week.
The country has the world's second highest number of infections at 281,752, topped only by the United States.
On Sunday, it announced new cases had dropped below 10,000 for the third day this week at 9,709.
"We've moved towards the level of stability that we've all been waiting for," said the head of Russia´s public health watchdog, Anna Popova, in a televised interview.
"I would say that of today, we have halted the growth" in numbers of cases, Popova said on Rossiya-1 television.
"For the last 10 or 11 days now, we haven't seen additional growth or it´s been very small."
"Stabilisation can be seen over the whole country. All the regions have managed to stabilise the situation," she said.
6:10pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Traders demand Sindh govt to reopen markets for 24 hours: Association
All City Traders Alliance has demanded that Sindh Government open markets in Karachi for 24 hours.
“We are ready to open our malls and shops for the Eid season,” said the president of the association Sharjeel Goplani.
6:05pm — Beijing, China — China's Wuhan nearly doubles number of COVID-19 tests per day
The city of Wuhan, where the new coronavirus outbreak originated in China, conducted 222,675 nucleic acid tests on May 16, the local health authority said on Sunday, nearly doubling from a day earlier.
Wuhan kicked off a campaign on May 14 to look for asymptomatic carriers — people who are infected but show no outward sign of illness — after confirming last weekend its first cluster of COVID-19 infections since its release from a virtual lockdown on April 8.
The number of tests carried out on May 16 in the city of 11 million residents was more than the 186,400 tests conducted on May 14-15, and was also the highest since the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission started publishing the data on February 21.
Wuhan is conducting the testing on a voluntary basis.
Residents who were previously tested do not need to participate in the campaign. Those who test positive now will be notified as soon as possible.
No confirmed cases with symptoms were identified May 14-16, though 28 new asymptomatic carriers were found, according to daily reports published by the Wuhan health authority.
6:00pm — Cairo, Egypt — Egypt tightens coronavirus restrictions for Eid holiday
Egypt will bring forward the start of its curfew by four hours to 5pm and halt public transport during the six-day Eid holiday from May 24 as it seeks to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, the prime minister said on Sunday.
Shops, restaurants and parks will also be closed for the holiday at the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, and restrictions on citizens’ movements will be extended for a further two weeks afterwards, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.
5:55pm - Bannu, Pakistan — Barbershops in Bannu to be open for three days in a week
Deputy Commissioner Bannu announced that barbershops will be allowed to open three days a week from Friday till Sunday.
“It will be mandatory for shopkeepers and customers to wear masks,” said the DC, adding that shopkeepers will also have to keep soaps and sanitizers.
5:35pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Asad Qaiser says he has recovered from coronavirus
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has announced that he has recovered from the coronavirus and thanked the people for their prayers.
“We can tackle this pandemic by working as a nation,” said the speaker and urged the people to follow the SOPs set by the government.
5:35pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan has been quick in enhancing capacity: Asad Umar
5:30pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh minister for transport rejects Sheikh Rashid's calls to resume train services
Sindh Minister for Transport Owais Shah has told Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed that trains will not operate from Karachi for a while.
“We are worried about the people and you are worried about trains?” the minister asked Rashid in a press conference. He added that if train service resumes then controlling the coronavirus would be very difficult.
“Mr Shaikh if you are not accountable to provinces then neither are the provinces,” said the minister.
Global spread of coronavirus
5:20pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh Governor Imran Ismail shares quarantine experience
5:15pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Nationwide toll crosses 41,000
Confirmed cases in the country rose to 41,152 after Khyber Pakhutnkwa reported more cases.
According to KP Health Department, 214 new cases were recorded in the province in the last 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 6,061.
The department also reported that 84 more patients recovered from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours.
05:15pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Nationwide death tally rises to 895
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has reported 13 more deaths today, taking the grim total to 318.
The new deaths also bring Pakistan's death tally close to 900.
5:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Transporters not to return to work till govt issues new SOPs: Association chairman
Chairman Public Transporters Association Asmatullah Niazi has stated that they will not return to work in Punjab till the provincial government issues new SOPs for them.
In a press conference, he also shared that they are in touch with transport associations across the country.
4:40pm - Lahore, Pakistan — PHF to resume hockey after Eid
Pakistan Hockey Federation has announced that it will resume domestic hockey after Eid with five a side game, announced the PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa.
The secretary announced that the games will be scheduled according to the government guidelines.
4:35pm - Antananarivo, Madagascar — Madagascar reports first coronavirus death
Madagascar on Sunday reported the first death of a patient suffering from novel coronavirus nearly two months after it was first detected in the country, official statistics showed.
The Indian ocean island which has reported 304 cases has hit the headlines over a home-grown herbal concoction that President Andry Rajoelina claims can cure people infected with the virus.
Several African countries have ordered or expressed interest in the purported remedy, which is known as Covid-Organics.
The tonic drink is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment — and other indigenous herbs.
But the World Health Organisation has warned against "adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy".
4:15pm - Doha, Qatar — Qatar imposes mandatory masks or pain of prison
Qatar on Sunday began enforcing the world's toughest penalties of up to three years' imprisonment for failing to wear masks in public, as it battles one of the world''s highest coronavirus infection rates.
More than 30,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the tiny Gulf country — 1.1% of the 2.75 million population — although just 15 people have died.
Only the micro-states of San Marino and the Vatican had higher per-capita infection rates, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Violators of Qatar's new rules will face up to three years in jail and fines of as much as $55,000. Drivers alone in their vehicles are exempt from the requirement, but several expats told AFP that police were stopping cars at checkpoints to warn them of the new rules before they came into force.
4:05pm - Paris, France — French Health Minister promises new hospital support plan by summer
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Sunday he wanted to unveil by summer a new support plan for French hospitals and health workers who have been on the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
In an interview with French Sunday weekly Le Journal Du Dimanche (JDD), Veran said consultations with social partners and health representatives would start from May 25.
“I want to go fast. I want the plan to be presented this summer, to include everything that can be presented in the next Social Security budget,” he said.
The new plan would increase the wages of health workers beyond recent bonuses awarded during the coronavirus crisis, he said.
“The nation will have to make a major effort to recognize their role,” he said.
The plan will also involve a reorganisation of investments and create a more flexible working time framework.
“If hospital staff want to work more and increase their wages, it must be possible. For that we must review the organisation of working time in hospitals,” he said.
4:00pm - Beijing, China — Top China expert warns of potential second coronavirus wave
China faces a potential second wave of coronavirus infections due to a lack of immunity among its population, its government's senior medical advisor has warned.
After months of lockdowns and curbs on travel China has largely brought the virus under control, but fears of a second wave have risen as clusters have emerged in northeast provinces and in the central city of Wuhan.
"The majority of... Chinese at the moment are still susceptible of the Covid-19 infection, because (of) a lack of immunity," Zhong Nanshan, the public face of government's response to the pandemic, told CNN.
"We are facing (a) big challenge," Zhong added. "It's not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment."
Zhong, who helped expose the scale of the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), also said authorities in ground-zero Wuhan had under-reported cases during the early days of the pandemic.
"The local authorities, they didn't like to tell the truth at that time," said Zhong, who was part of a team of experts sent to Wuhan to investigate the outbreak.
"I didn't believe that result (the number of cases reported) so I (kept) asking and then, you have to give me the real number," he said.
But he added he believed data published after Wuhan was locked down in late January, and when the central government took control of the response, "will be correct".
3:55pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Transporters reject govt set SOPs for resumption of services
Transporters in Lahore have rejected the government announced SOPs for them and have decided not to resume public transport service in Punjab.
“We have already incurred so much loss due to the lockdown. We cannot make one passenger on two seats,” said the transporters association. They added they will take as many passengers as their busses allow.
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3:40pm — Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand opens malls after nearly two months amid coronavirus outbreak
Thailand on Sunday opened malls and department stores for the first time since March in its second phase of relaxing measures as the number of new coronavirus cases slowed.
Scores of shoppers were seen queuing before entering the Iconsiam mall in central Bangkok. Customers are asked to scan a QR code and register on a government website before entering.
"I want to have Japanese food today because I haven't had it for three or four months. The QR code registration is inconvenient for an elder like me,” said Sa-nguan Khumrungroj, 65, at Iconsiam.
A machine sprayed disinfectant at shoppers' feet as they entered Iconsiam and another dispensed hand sanitizer.
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2:50pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Death toll climbs to 882
The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 882 after 9 more deaths were reported in the province.
Sindh’s death toll from the virus now stands at 277.
2:50pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh tally crosses 16,000, nationwide toll rises to 40,938
Confirmed cases in the country rose to 40,938 after Sindh recorded more cases.
According to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, 787 cases were recorded in the province in the last 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 16,377.
He added there were 11,891 patients under treatment in the province at the moment, adding that 4,209 patients had recovered from the virus in the province.
2:40pm- Madrid, Spain — Spain's daily coronavirus death toll below 100 for first time in two months
Spain’s daily death toll from the coronavirus was 87 on Sunday, the health ministry said, dropping below 100 for the first time in two months.
Total deaths from the virus climbed to 27,650, while the number of confirmed cases edged up to 231,350 from 230,698, the ministry said.
2:25pm - Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia reports 489 new coronavirus cases, 59 new deaths
Indonesia reported 489 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, taking the total to 17,514.
Indonesia also reported 59 deaths from the COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, bringing the toll to 1,148, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto told an online news conference.
The Southeast Asian country has tested around 140,473 people, Yurianto said.
2:15pm - Rawalpindi, Pakistan — Will give final decision of resumption of services by Tuesday: Raliways minister
RaiIways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed has announced that he will give his final decision on resuming services by Tuesday after meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The minister stated that if he does not get the approval from the premier then he will return the money taken from the passengers in 15 days from Wednesday onwards.
"If I get approval by tomorrow then I will work on SOPs," said the minister. He added that he is under no obligation to follow advise of the CMs as his ministry falls under the PM Imran's domain.
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2:00pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Minister asks individuals to contact boards for their concerns
1:55pm - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia reports 22 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths
Malaysia’s health ministry reported 22 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the cumulative total to 6,894.
The country reported no new deaths, with total fatalities remaining at 113.
1:50pm - Peshawar, Pakistan —Lcokdown eased due to difficulties being faced by people: KP CM
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has announced that the decision to ease the lockdown was taken due to the difficulties being faced by the people.
“Easing of the lockdown does not mean the pandemic has ended,” said the CM. He added that chances of the spread of the virus have increased due to the easing of the lockdown.
“It has become more important than before to follow the safety measures,” said CM Khan. He also asked traders to ensure that safety measures are followed in markets.
1:45pm - Manila, Philippines — Philippines records 208 new coronavirus cases, seven more deaths
The Philippines’ Department of Health on Sunday reported 208 new cases of coronavirus infections and seven more fatalities.
The Southeast Asian country’s total confirmed cases have risen to 12,513, most of which are in the capital Manila, while its death toll has climbed to 824. The number of recoveries has reached 2,635, the health department said in a bulletin.
1:30pm Gilgit, Gilgit Baltistan — Complete lockdown being observed in GB
Advisor to Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister on Information Shams Mir announced that complete lockdown is in place in the region.
“All businesses and transport are closed,” said Mir. However, he clarified that stores selling essential items and medical store are open.
“If SOPs are not followed then more restrictions can be placed,” said the advisor.
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1:10pm - Seoul, South Korea — South Korea reports single digit domestic coronavirus cases
South Korea on Sunday reported five new domestic cases of coronavirus, all linked to a cluster of cases centred around bars and nightclubs in the capital which has raised fears in the country of a fresh wave of contagion.
After weeks of nearly no new domestic coronavirus cases, South Korea relaxed its lockdown on May 6, but a subsequent spike in infections linked to Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife neighbourhood forced a rapid re-think.
The government has stood by its decision to ease broader restrictions by reopening offices, public facilities and sports centres, but some nightclubs and bars in the capital were ordered to close again, and authorities have also delayed the planned reopening of schools by a week.
South Korea reported 13 new cases as of midnight Saturday, bringing the country’s total to 11,050 with 262 deaths.
Of those new cases, five were linked to the outbreak from the night spots in Seoul, and seven were people with the infection entering South Korea from abroad.
It was the second consecutive day in single figures for new domestic cases since the latest scare erupted, but so far there have been 168 cases linked to the Itaewon cluster, including clubgoers as well as secondary infections in family members, coworkers, and students.
12:55pm - Moscow, Russia — Russia reports 9,709 new coronavirus infections
Russia reported 9,709 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, a rise from 9,200 new cases reported the previous day.
Russia’s coronavirus taskforce said the overall number of cases nationwide stood at 281,752. It added that 94 people had died over the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll from the virus to 2,631.
12:50pm - Lahore, Pakistan — 30 Passenger trains to resume operations after provinces give go-ahead: Official
Deputy Superintendent of Railways in Lahore Amir Nisar shared that 30 passenger trains will resume operations after the four provinces give the go-ahead.
DS Lahore stated that no passenger will be allowed to enter the stations without the safety measures and urged them to ensure that they wear masks, gloves and use hand sanitizers.
“Social distancing will be followed strictly,” said DS Lahore Amir Nisar. He added that all employees have been asked to ensure that all SOPs are strictly followed.
The railway officials have also shared that 60% of the booking will be done on the trains once operations resume.
12:40pm - Singapore — Singapore reports 682 more coronavirus cases, taking total to 28,038
Singapore registered 682 more infections of the new coronavirus, its health ministry said on Sunday, taking the city-state’s total to 28,038 cases.
The vast majority of the newly infected people are migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said in a statement. Four are permanent residents.
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12:00pm - Mexico City, Mexico — Mexico registers 47,144 cases of coronavirus and 5,045 deaths
Mexico registered 47,144 cases of coronavirus on Saturday, with the country’s death toll rising to 5,045, health authorities said.
Mexico has seen a slightly higher death rate from coronavirus than the global average so far due to the widespread presence of pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, experts say.
11:55am - Beijing, China — China reports five new coronavirus cases, down from eight a day earlier
Mainland China reported five new confirmed COVID-19 cases for May 16, down from eight the previous day, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement on Sunday.
Two of the five confirmed cases were so-called imported infections, while three were locally transmitted in northeastern Chinese city of Jilin.
The number of confirmed cases in the mainland now stands at 82,947 and the death toll at 4,634.
The three domestically-transmitted cases are related to a district in Jilin city called Fengman, which has been classified by Chinese officials as a high-risk area for COVID-19.
Heightened disease control measures in the district include only allowing only one person from a family to go out and purchase daily necessities each day, acccording to the district’s official post on WeChat.
Residents were advised not to leave the city and any who do need to leave must provide a negative test result taken within the previous 48 hours.
Jilin is the second largest city of Jilin province, which borders North Korea and Russia. It temporarily suspended passenger train services last Wednesday.
The number of China’s new asymptomatic cases of the coronavirus fell to 12 from 13, the NHC said.
11:50am - Lahore, Pakistan — CM Buzdar, SAPM Dar review Tiger Force in Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar reviewed the arrangements amde for the Tiger Force volunteers working in the province.
The province has 700,000 Tiger Force volunteers in the province out of that 64,000 have been assigned duties.
11:45am - Lahore, Pakistan — Meeting decides to develop SOPs for Eid prayers
Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat has directed officials to prepare SOPs for the last Friday prayers for Ramadan and Eid prayers in the province.
The directions came during a meeting chaired by Basharat to review the situation emerging in the province due to the coronavirus. The meeting was also attended by provincial minister for industries Mian Aslam Iqbal, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafiq and IG Punjab police.
The chief secretary informed the meeting that security should be provided on the special days and instructed officials to ensure that SOPs in markets should be implemented with the help of traders.
“Violation of SOPs in markets will not be tolerated at any cost,” said Rafiq.
11:40am - Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand reports three new coronavirus cases, no additional deaths
Thailand reported three additional cases of the new coronavirus, bringing its total cases to 3,028 as the country relaxes local restrictions and re-opens malls and department stores.
The three new cases, detected in state quarantine, were students returning from overseas, one from Pakistan and two from Egypt, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, Taweesin Wisanuyothin, said on Sunday.
Thailand has reported a total of 56 deaths and 116 patients were still being treated.
2,856 patients have recovered.
11:20am - Melbourne, Australia — New Zealand's Ardern turned away from cafe under coronavirus rules
Hailed for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner were turned away from a cafe on Saturday because it was too full under the physical distancing guidelines.
Ardern's government relaxed many social distancing rules on Thursday, reopening cafes, cinemas and malls after two months of some of the tightest restrictions in the world to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Ardern and Clarke Gayford walked for a brunch to a cafe in the country's capital, Wellington, where they were initially told it was too full, New Zealand media reported. An employee ran after them a few minutes later when a table became free and the couple went back.
Arden's partner, Clarke Gayford, took the blame on himself.
"I have to take responsibility for this, I didn't get organised and book anywhere," Gayford said on Twitter. "Was very nice of them to chase us down street when a spot freed up. A+ service."
The prime minister's press service said that waiting at a cafe is likely with the virus restrictions.
"The PM says she just waits like everyone else," the public Television New Zealand cited Ardern's press service as saying.
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11:00am — New Delhi, India – Confirmed cases climb to 90,000
10:45am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Islamabad, AJK report new cases
Confirmed cases in the country climbed to 40,151 after new cases were reported in Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
According to the national dashboard, 26 new cases were detected in the federal capital while four new cases were reported in AJK.
Overall 14,584 cases have been recorded in Punjab, 15,590 in Sindh, 5,847 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2,544 in Balochistan, 527 in Gilgit Baltistan, 947 in Islamabad and 112 in AJK.
10:30am — Kathmandu, Nepal — Nepal reports 1st death from coronavirus
10:15am — Brasilia, Brazil — Brazil passes Italy and Spain in confirmed coronavirus cases
Brazil's confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus rose on Saturday past those of Spain and Italy, which was once the epicentre of the pandemic, making Brazil's outbreak the fourth largest in the world, according to official figures.
Brazil's Health Ministry registered 14,919 new confirmed cases in the prior 24 hours, taking the total to 233,142, behind the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom.
Brazil's Health Ministry on Saturday also reported 816 new deaths related to the virus, bringing the total to 15,633
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US drug regulator suspends Gates-backed at-home COVID-19 testing programme
An at-home coronavirus testing project in Seattle backed in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it was working with US regulators to resume the program after being suspended by the Food and Drug Administration.
"The FDA has not raised any concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of SCAN's test, but we have been asked to pause testing until we receive that additional authorisation," the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN) said.
The Gates Foundation in March said it was providing technical assistance for SCAN, which had been approved by regulators in Washington state, one of the first US states to be hit hard by the outbreak. Bill Gates has also privately funded SCAN, according to the foundation.
Read more here.
9:45am — New York, US — New cases in NY coming from people leaving home: governor
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has the state's new confirmed COVID-19 cases are predominantly coming from people who left their homes to go shop, exercise or socialize and not from essential workers.
"That person got infected and went to the hospital or that person got infected and went home and infected the other people at home," he said during his daily news conference on the coronavirus.
Cuomo said he theorised last week that new cases were coming from essential workers.
"That was exactly wrong," he said. "The infection rate among essential workers is lower than the general population and those new cases are coming predominantly from people who are not working and they are at home."
9:30am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Govt's selective lockdown policy to remove pressure from labourers: info minister
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said the government is opting selective lockdown policy to remove pressure from daily-wage workers and labour community, reported Radio Pakistan.
Speaking to a private TV channel, he said a complete lockdown was not a feasible option for poor segment of the society.
He added the government could go for strict measures to implement SOPs for protecting the people from coronavirus pandemic.
Global coronavirus cases pass 4.56 million, death toll crosses 306,000
More than 4.56 million people have been reported to have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 306,221 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.
WHO encourages people to 'talk it out' as they cope with COVID-19 fears
8:45am — Washington, US — Trump says he is considering restoring some funding to WHO, no decision made
US President Donald Trump has said his administration was considering numerous proposals about the World Health Organisation, including one in which Washington would pay about 10% of its former level.
In a posting on Twitter, Trump underscored that no final decision had been made and that US funding for the global health agency remained frozen.
Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO on April 14, accusing it of promoting China's "disinformation" about the coronavirus outbreak and saying his administration would launch a review of the organisation. WHO officials denied the claims and China has insisted it was transparent and open.
8:30am — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Coronavirus cases top 50,000
The number of coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia topped 50,000 on Saturday, the health ministry said.
A ministry official reported 2,840 new cases, taking the cumulative total to 51,980. That was up from an average of around 1,500 new cases a day over the past week.
The death toll in the kingdom increased by 10 to 302, the official said on state TV.
Saudi Arabia recorded its first COVID-19 infection on March 2, several weeks after the initial outbreak in Asia
8:20am— Budapest, Hungary — Hungary to gradually lift lockdown in Budapest from Monday
Hungary's government will gradually lift lockdown restrictions in Budapest from Monday, two weeks after it ended the lockdown in the rest of the country, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on his official Facebook page on Saturday.
"It has become clear that we have managed to curb the epidemic in Budapest as well," Orban said in a video. "Therefore, we can shift to the second phase of defence in Budapest as well, cautiously ... and thus we lift the lockdown."
10:29pm/May 16 — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh's public transport to reopen after Eid: transport minister
Sindh transport minister Owais Qadir Shah has said that transport in the province will reopen after Eid.
"We have begun preparations for resuming transport services with SOPs in place," said Shah, in a conversation with Geo News.
He said a four-point summary has been prepared to provide relief to transporters and has been sent to the chief minister for approval.
A final decision will be taken by the chief minister following a meeting on Monday.
09:14pm/May 16 — Islamabad, Pakistan — Chinese firm donates two intelligent mask production lines to help local industry
08:33pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Highest number of tests conducted in last 24 hours
Participants of a meeting of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) were told that Pakistan, in the last 24 hours, conducted the most number of tests in a day so far.
The country conducted over 14,878 tests which is the greatest number since the first patient was reported in the country.
