ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's government was scrambling to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country on Monday after the number of infections rose to more than 1,600, with 20 deaths reported thus far.
According to the government's official website, 1,625 people have tested positive for the disease, with 54 new infections and four deaths reported in the past 24 hours.
Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab has recorded the highest number of infections at 593, followed by Sindh at 508, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 195, Balochistan at 144, Islamabad at 51, Gilgit-Baltistan at 128, and Azad Kashmir with six cases, respectively.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza, said on Sunday that there has been an increase in the number of suspected cases, bringing the total to 13,324.
Meanwhile, following a core committee's meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, de facto information minister, Firdous Ashiq Awan, said that the government would be re-opening all highways and roads to ensure the delivery of ration and food supplies to deserving families across the country.
Last week Pakistan deployed military to aid civilian authorities in enforcing partial shutdown in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus jnfections.
Public transport and railway operations have been closed upon government's directives as millions are urged to stay indoors across Pakistan.