Confirmed COVID-19 cases top 30,000 as Pakistan eases lockdown restrictions

ISLAMABAD: The tally of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan has risen to 30,334, according to latest data released on the website of the health ministry on Sunday night, as the country began easing of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

A total of 11,480 cases have so far been detected in the country's southern Sindh province, 11,093 in eastern Punjab, 4,669 in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,935 in southwest Balochistan, 430 in northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, and 641 in capital city Islamabad.

As many as 8,063 patients have so far recovered, while the death toll stands at 659 with 20 new deaths reported during the last 24 hours.

Talking to media personnel on Sunday, Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has expressed confidence that the decision to ease lockdown in phased manner will be implemented with the national spirit of unity.

He expressed satisfaction that the people have acted with responsibility, but they now need to more strictly follow the precautionary measures after the easing of restrictions to avoid the spread of the virus, adding that the decision of easing restrictions was taken to provide livelihoods to the poor people.