Govt seeks lowering of lockdown restrictions amid fewer than dreaded COVID-19 cases
Thursday April 30, 2020
Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan is looking to loosen the country’s lockdown restrictions in the wake of fewer than anticipated reported cases as well as local mortalities of COVID-19, a news source quoted Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar as saying. Read: ‘Smart lockdown’ implemented across Pakistan to contain COVID-19 spread Speaking to the media on Wednesday (April 29), Umar said that out of a reported total of 15,500 COVID-19 patients, 340 had died – a ratio much lower than that reported by many other countries. Promptly responding to the improved situation, the government had already exempted many businesses, industries and sectors from the lockdown curfew, he said; adding that should the situation proceed in this manner, with the coronavirus incidence ratio remaining lower than 35% of projected figures, many more businesses could be allowed to reopen in the next few days, he added. Read: China, NHI to conduct clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan As per the official figures shared today (April 30), the total number of confirmed coronavirus patients recorded for Pakistan is 16,272 – out of which 4,052 have recovered. The detailed breakdown shows that Punjab has 6,220 documented COVID-19 patients, Sindh has 6,053, KP 2,313, Balochistan 974, Islamabad 313, Gilgit-Baltistan 333, and Azad Jamu & Kashmir 66.
