Army steps in as Pak reports seven deaths
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday reported its seventh death from the coronavirus and 16 new cases, taking the nationwide tally of positive cases to 908. The death was reported by Punjab province, its first so far.
According to provincial health minister Yasmin Rashid, the patient was a 57-year-old admitted to Mayo hospital. Sindh remains the worst affected zone with 399 cases. In Karachi, the number of cases is 133 with the majority said to be instances of “local transmission”. Other provinces have reported more cases of the virus by patients with a foreign travel history.
On Monday evening, the Pakistan Army announced it was stepping in to support moves for a nationwide lockdown.
Police, paramilitary rangers and military personnel are now being deployed all over the country to take the country into full-fledged lockdown mode.
After the suspension of all inter-city bus services throughout the country, Pakistan Railways on Tuesday said all passenger train services will be suspended for seven days till March 31. There is a deserted look in most cities as domestic travel has almost come to a standstill.
In Sindh, there is an almost complete lockdown with people only being allowed to come out of their houses to buy medicines or groceries. In other parts of the country, the government’s focus is on shutting down public spaces including places of worship, shopping centres, tourism spots and wedding halls. PM Imran Khan in a speech last week had said he was not in favour of a lockdown as it would adversely affect the poorest sections of society.
On Tuesday, Khan approved a multibillion rupee relief package for economically vulnerable people.