ISLAMABAD: At least 92 health professionals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus across the country in the last two days, increasing the number of infected doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff to 345.

According to a National Health Ministry official, the number increased to 345 from 253 on Thursday after new cases were detected among the medical community. The official said that doctors are the most affected class of healthcare professionals when it comes to the infections with over 165 doctors across the country under treatment for the virus. 131 paramedical and support staff, as well as 41 nurses, have also contracted the virus.

Apart from the confirmed cases, more than 1,500 doctors, nurses, paramedics and those with whom they came into contact are in quarantine. Many are waiting for their test results after coming into contact with the health professionals who have already tested positive, the official said.

The official added that most of the cases of coronavirus among health professionals have been reported from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, while a few cases have also been reported from Sindh and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Giving a breakdown of the health professionals afflicted with the novel coronavirus, the health ministry official said that 93 have been infected in Punjab of which 55 are doctors, 16 nurses and 22 paramedics and support staff.

The official added that the Nishtar Medical Hospital in Multan and the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore were the worst affected health facilities in Punjab, as most of the infected health professionals in that province worked at those two facilities.