Army called out in Pakistan to battle virus
ISLAMABAD: Army has been called out in Pakistan’s capital to battle the third wave of coronavirus as the country reported 144 new coronavirus deaths on Friday, raising the total death tally to 16,842.
On Saturday 157 deaths were reported due to coronavirus making it the country’s highest death toll since the coronavirus pandemic began last year.
Previously, the highest death toll reported by the country was 153 on June 20th of last year.
April has proved cruel to Pakistan, with over 2,400 deaths already reported so far in the month, with a week still left to go.
Pakistan Army personnel along with the assistant commissioner and police visited various markets in Islamabad at night. Those flouting the rules and showing no regard for COVID-19 SOPs were fined, while some persons were also arrested.
In a televised address after chairing the meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC), the prime minister urged people to adopt preventive measures so that a lockdown of big cities is avoided.
The Prime Minister also hinted to call out army to implement the SOPs.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said out of 144 new fatalities reported on Friday.
On average this month, 32.5% of all fatalities, or 784 cases.
ISLAMABAD
Islamabad’s PIMS hospital has run out of beds due to increasing number of the coronavirus patients and the hospital management informed the health ministry.
Punjab
The Punjab government has decided to close schools in four more districts across the province as coronavirus metrics continue to rise.
The physical classes in Okara, Bhakar, Jhang, and Khanewal have been suspended.
Students from grades one to eight will be staying home. Their classes will resume after Eid.
Earlier this month, Punjab suspended physical classes for schools in cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Sargoda, Faisalabad, Tobe Tek Singh, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sheikupura.
Sindh
On Saturday morning, the Karachi administration of has imposed a micro smart lockdown in two more neighbourhoods in District Keamari as the third wave of the novel coronavirus continues to grapple the country.
Entry and exit points of Keamari 3 and SITE’s Metroville 4 will be sealed on April 27. People will not be allowed to leave their houses unless absolutely necessary and wearing masks has been made compulsory.
Covid-19 claimed 11 more lives in Sindh during the previous 24 hours, raising the death toll due to the viral disease in the province to 4,587 on Friday. In the meantime, 486 patients of Covid-19 remained under treatment at different hospitals, of whom the condition of 446 patients was stated to be critical and 48 of them had been shifted onto life support.
Sindh chief minister demanded ban on inter-provincial transport. The Sindh government also decided to procure vaccine on its own directly.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Owing to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the consumption of oxygen in eight major hospitals of the province has increased by 83% over the last one-and-a-half week.
This increase is from 40,000 litres to 72,500 litres.
Balochistan
Chief Minister Jam Kamal on Friday informed the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan that no ventilator was occupied by coronavirus patients in the largest province of the country.
