Death toll soars to record high

Pakistan on Saturday reported its highest death toll in a single day. Authorities reported 157 deaths, bringing the overall fatalities to 16,999. A total of 5,908 additional cases pushed the caseload to 790,016 as authorities complain of routine violations of social distancing and maskwearing rules.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said military troops will be deployed to help police enforce the restrictions in public places. Authorities also decided to keep educational institutions closed until the situation improved.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said Saturday said 500,000 doses of China’s Sinovac vaccines arrived by plane.

K.M. Chaudary / Associated Press Passengers pass a thermal scanner to check for virus symptoms at a rail station in Lahore, Pakistan.