Lahore/Karachi (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has risen to 212 after the Punjab confirmed five more cases of COVID-19.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid confirmed that the number of coronavirus cases in Punjab have risen to six after five new cases were confirmed. She said the five cases were all from the over 700 cases in quarantine in DG Khan.
Punjab Health Department Secretary Kaiser Sharif said a suspected coronavirus patient in Lahore has passed away.
According to Sharif, the patient was admitted in the isolation ward of Mayo Hospital Lahore on Monday night. He had been tested for coronavirus and his results were expected to be received today afternoon.
Earlier, Advisor to Sindh chief minister on Information Murtaza Wahab said another 11 people who have reached the province from Taftan have tested positive.
“Another 11 have tested positive. These patients came to Sukkur from Taaftaan & were purportedly kept in quarantine at the border. So the total patients affected by corona virus has reached 88 now. All these patients are being kept in isolation,” Wahab said in a tweet.
The sharp increase in cases was reported among pilgrims who have recently returned rom Iran via Taftan.
Globally, 158 countries have been affected, more than 6,500 people have died and more than 170,000 infected by the disease called 'COVID-19' as it spreads rapidly to new territories.
The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.