Pakistan's COVID-19 cases cross 5,000 mark, Punjab worst-hit

Pakistan's COVID-19 cases surged past 5,000 on Sunday with nearly half of the patients in Punjab province.

The decision to extend the nation-wide lockdown would be taken after April 15 in view of the situation then, reported Dawn.

While addressing media, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar told the media, "that the government would decide on Monday whether to extend the lockdown or ease restrictions after April 15."

Although Punjab has the highest tally of cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has turned out to be the province with the highest number of critical cases of COVID-19.

According to the World Health Organisation's report issued on April 10, "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has 620 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of them, 201 were admitted to health centers, while the condition of 181 is stable and that of 20 is critical. The number of critical cases is higher than in other provinces."

The virus has claimed 22 lives in the province.

As per the latest figures, Punjab has reported the highest number of cases which is 2,425 cases. Sindh is the next worst-hit province with at least 1,318 confirmed cases, KP has reported 697 cases, followed by Balochistan that has confirmed 228 cases, 216 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 119 in Islamabad and 35 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The country has reported 86 deaths and more than 1,000 recoveries.