COVID-19: 1,225 lives lost as Pakistan reports 28 deaths in 24 hours

Islamabad: There is no let-up in new cases of coronavirus as well as deaths in Pakistan, even as authorities fear a further increase in the coming days with Eid Al Fitr holidays in the country set to end on Thursday. Businesses and offices are set to resume normal operations from Thursday, raising concerns about an increase in the number of positive cases.

Even during the six days of Eid holidays (from May 22-27), the country saw a phenomenal increase in the number of affected persons as people thronged markets and shopping malls showing little regard for standard operating procedures (SOP).

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, just a day before the Eid holidays started, on May 21, Pakistan had a total of 48,091 cases of coronavirus. On May 27, the number had jumped to 59,151 — an increase of 11,060 cases.

In other words, on a daily average, 1,580 new positive cases are being reported.

Similarly, the number of deaths has also jumped — from 1,017 to 1,225 — in the last seven days, marking an increase of 208 deaths, at approximately 29 deaths per day.

More deaths feared in coming days

In the coming days, the number of positive cases and deaths may go up at an alarming rate as life returns to normality and offices and business establishments begin to reopen.

On May 18, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed all provincial governments and the federal government to reopen markets and shopping malls and allow businesses to resume, noting that the closure of business was affecting the lives of people in the lower income groups and daily wage earners. The apex court had also directed to do away with two days of weekly holidays so that business could be conducted on all days of the week.

380 lives lost in Sindh

The government of Sindh, however, had expressed its reservations about the apex court’s orders, warning that it would lead to an unprecedented spike in the number of new cases of coronavirus in the country, particularly in Sindh.

Sindh’s population of 47.9 million is less than half of Punjab’s (100 million) and yet it has so far recorded the highest number of positive cases in Pakistan — 24,206. On Wednesday, Sindh confirmed 699 new cases and six deaths in the last 24 hours. According to Chief Minister Murad Shah, the total number of deaths in the province has touched 380.

Punjab reports 21,118 cases, 362 deaths

In Punjab, the total number of coronavirus cases stands at 21,118 and the province has reported 362 deaths so far. In the last 24 hours, the province has reported ten deaths.

416 deaths in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province of 35.5 million people, has so far recorded 8,259 confirmed cases of coronavirus with a death toll of 416 — higher than that of Sindh and Punjab. Such a high casualty rate is attributed to the emergence of a number of coronavirus hotspots in the province, with most of the deaths caused through transmission of the virus from those who had either returned to the province from other countries or were members of Tableeghi Jamaat.