Fifth virus case linked to Iran is confirmed

karachi — Pakistan on Tuesday reported a new coronavirus case, taking the total in the country to five since the first cases were confirmed last week, officials said.

“We have now 5th confirmed case of COVID19 in federal areas. The patient is stable and is being managed well. I request the media to respect the privacy of the patient and the family,” Zafar Mirza, the country’s health minister said in a tweet early Tuesday morning.

The patient is stable and being managed well, he said, without giving further details.

The local Geo television station said the patient is a 45-year-old woman from the northern mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan, who arrived from Iran a few days ago. She is being treated at a hospital in Gilgit, it said, and her family members are being tested for the virus. Local schools have been closed following the confirmation of the infection.

Most of the cases reported so far in Pakistan have a history of travel to Iran.

The GB government announced to shut down educational institutional till March 7 after the confirmation of its first coronavirus case.

The southern province of Sindh on Monday extended the closure of all educational institutions following the confirmation of a second coronavirus case in Karachi, the

country’s largest city. Balochistan province also closed its schools and college after the deadly virus surfaced in the country.

Pakistan announced its first two cases of COVID19 last

Wednesday. Pakistan has also closed its border with Iran and Afghanistan.

So far, no coronavirus related death has been reported in Pakistan. —