Photo: File

LAHORE: The number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Pakistan rose to 237 after Sindh and Punjab both announced 17 and eight new cases respectively on Tuesday.

Punjab ministers Yasmin Rashid and Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan addressed a press conference on Tuesday, where they said that the number of coronavirus patients in Punjab has risen to eight.



Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said that 736 people in Dera Ghazi Khan have been under observation after they came from Taftan. Eight new cases were confirmed among those in quarantine in DG Khan, she said.



Sindh tally reaches 172

The total number of coronavirus patients in the province rose to 172 on Tuesday after 17 new cases of the infection were reported in the province, Sindh government representative Murtaza Wahab confirmed.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister's adviser on law stated that 134 pilgrims in Sukkar who arrived from Taftan had tested positive for the virus while 140 had tested negative.

Among the 17 new coronavirus cases, two are residents of Karachi while 15 arrived in Sukkur from Karachi.

In Karachi, the affected toll rose to 37 while one coronavirus case was reported from Hyderabad.

Five new cases were reported in the province earlier today, taking the tally from 150 to 155. However, 17 new cases emerged, taking the toll to 172 throughout the province.

This takes the national affected persons toll to 210 from 193.

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.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had stated that Pakistan had reported its first death from coronavirus. But due to conflicting reports of the circumstances surrounding the death, we are, for the time being withdrawing the report and waiting for confirmation.

