Islamabad: Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Pakistan as the country is in the grip of the second wave of COVID-19 and reported 32 deaths on Sunday in a period of twenty-four hours.
Besides, the single-day count of new cases after 39,745 tests was 2,443. With these latest figures, Pakistan’s confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported at 356,904 while the death toll stopped at 7,141.
Moreover, first time in four months, Pakistan reported 26,538 active cases of coronavirus while there are 1,377 critical cases in the country.
Senior Vice President of the National Press Club (NPC) and Geo TV reporter Arshad Waheed Chaudhry lost battle against coronavirus Saturday night.
Chaudhry was recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and since then he was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Rawalpindi. The doctors had put him on a ventilator after his condition deteriorated last week. He had been associated with Geo TV for the past 15 years and was hosting a TV show “Geo Parliament.”
President Dr Arif Alvi in a condolence message expressed his sorrow and grief over the death of Arshad Waheed Chaudhry. In a message of condolence to Arshad Waheed Chaudhry’s family, the president said “My condolences on the sad demise of senior journalist, columnist, and anchor Arshad Waheed Chaudhry. May his soul rest in peace and May Allah give strength to the family to bear this loss.”
Aamir Liaquat put on ventilator
Pakistan’s well known TV host and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Liaquat Hussain is also reported to be in critical condition due to coronavirus. He and his wife Tuba had contracted coronavirus on Nov 6 and then announced it on social media.
On Sunday, however, doctors put Aamir Liaquat on a ventilator after his condition deteriorated. A day earlier, Aamir Liaquat in a tweet had appealed to his fans, friends and people to pray for his recovery.
Dawn TV’s anchor Zarrar Khuhro has also tested positive and has gone into quarantine. In a tweet, Zarrar announced he tested positive, however, he added these are mild symptoms.
Over 400 cases in Islamabad
Meanwhile, the federal capital has reported 461 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, marking the second straight day of more than 400 daily infections. A day earlier (Saturday) the city had reported 411 cases of coronavirus in one day.
It has also reported two more deaths from the virus. The capital’s tally of cases has jumped to 23,994 and fatalities to 255.
District Health officer (DHO) of Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia in a tweet informed “Covid-19 outbreak gets worse. The number of sealed institutions in Islamabad crosses 100.”
Tally of the sealed institutions has now reached 120.” He has appealed to the residents to strictly follow health guidelines and observe coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).