Pakistan records 153 new coronavirus deaths

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan on Saturday reported 153 new deaths due to the coronavirus, breaking its previous record of the highest single-day fatalities ever from the novel virus, the Health Ministry said.

Some 136 COVID-19 patients had lost their battle for life last Wednesday.

With the latest surge, the death toll from COVID-19 in the country has reached 3,382.

Another 6,604 people were infected by the virus over the past 24 hours across the country, raising the tally to 171,666, the data shows. Some 63,504 patients have recovered.

The country has recorded over 90,000 COVID-19 cases this month alone.
The rise in fatalities and new infection followed the imposition of "smart lockdown" in scores of hotspots in some 20 big cities on Friday in an attempt to mitigate the pandemic. The new restriction will run through until July 2.

According to the official statistics, Pakistan has so far conducted 1,042,787 tests across the country.

Health experts see the ever-increasing coronavirus cases as a result of the lifting of a prolonged lockdown late last month, warning that the country's already weak health system might crash soon if the tally continues to surge at the current pace.

Minister for planning, Asad Umar, who is also heading the country's anti-coronavirus strategy, last week warned the COVID-19 cases could exceed 1 million by the end of July if the current trend persists.