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Four new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Balochistan, taking the provincial tally to 202, according to a situation report issued by the Balochistan health department.
The province has so far reported one death while 63 people have recovered from the virus.
Residents in Lombardy, the Italian region worst hit by the coronavirus, have been forced to scrounge scarce protective face masks or to improvise solutions of their own after authorities ordered anyone moving outside to cover their nose and mouth, Reuters reports.
Regional governor Attilio Fontana said the masks, which will be less elaborate than the top grade medical masks used in hospitals, would begin to be distributed this week, a month after Italy imposed a strict lockdown on March 9.
PPP co-chair Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lashed out at the government for the violence against young doctors in Quetta, terming the act “state thuggery”.
“Instead of providing them with the requisite protective gear, the government has sent them to jail. At a time when they are needed in hospitals doctors have been sent to jails. What kind of justice is this?” questioned Bilawal.
He said rather than fulfilling their deserving demands, the PTI government is quashing their basic human rights.
“The PPP is standing with you. Do not consider yourself alone,” he said in his message to Quetta's doctors.
Balochistan has confirmed six more cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the provincial tally to 198.
According to the provincial government's spokesperson, Liaquat Shahwani, as many as 126 persons were tested for the virus on Monday, of whom 6 tested positive.
The patients will be shifted to hospitals, he said.
Pakistan's foreign exchanges reserves plunged more than 12 per cent or $1.6 billion over just three weeks in March as the coronavirus outbreak roiled global financial markets, the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed.
As on March 27, forex reserves totalled $11.2 billion, down from $12.8 billion as on March 6, Reuters reports.
Germany has drawn up a list of steps, including mandatory mask-wearing in public, limits on gatherings and the rapid tracing of infection chains, to help enable a phased return to normal life after its coronavirus lockdown is set to end on April 19, Reuters reports.
A draft action plan compiled by German Interior Ministry and seen by Reuters, says the measures should be enough to keep the average number of people infected by one person below 1 even as public life is allowed gradually to resume.
UAE carriers Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways have resumed limited passenger flights two weeks after authorities grounded airlines as part of wider shutdowns to combat the coronavirus.
The flights are open to foreign citizens who wish to leave the United Arab Emirates, but no incoming passengers are allowed. Foreign residents of the oil-rich Gulf state are banned from re-entering until at least mid-April.
The United States had no knowledge of a shipment of face masks bound for Germany that officials in Berlin have accused it of diverting from an airport in Bangkok, a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Thailand said.
“The United States Government did not take any action to divert any 3M supplies that were destined to Germany nor did we have any knowledge of such a shipment,” Jillian Bonnardeaux, the spokeswoman for the US embassy in Bangkok, told Reuters.
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132 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, taking the provincial tally to 1,816, according to a spokesperson for the Punjab health department.
Among the total, 577 cases were reported from quarantine centres housing pilgrims, 527 in people associated with Raiwind, 49 inmates and 663 other citizens.
The spokesperson said detailed SOPs have been issued to the home department to look after the patients in jails. A strategy has also been made to prevent other inmates from contracting the virus, they added.
More than 20,000 Pakistani workers stuck in the United Arab Emirates are seeking to return home, as the Gulf Arab state tightens restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reports.
The UAE, which has reported 1,799 coronavirus cases and 10 deaths, has gradually increased curbs, including imposing a nationwide curfew, suspending passenger flights and putting Dubai in a lockdown.
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Military forces across Europe have scaled back operations and imposed stricter rules on personnel to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus among staff who often live and work in close quarters, making them more vulnerable to infection, Reuters reported.
Preventing the virus’ proliferation among the military is important both for national security and because specialist army, navy and airforce units are being drafted in to help governments tackle the virus in many countries.
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Muzaffargarh police distributed rations among the needy in the district as the country's fight against Covid-19 intensifies.
According to spokesman of the city's police, ration bags containing supplies for 15 days were distributed among more than 700 lower-income people.
The police had earlier collected around Rs1.5 million for the purpose of helping out poor people.
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has written a letter to Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani, who was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus last week.
Qaiser inquired after Larijani's health and said that it was important that the world stands together to face the health challenge, which "poses a threat to the well-being of the entire humanity". The NA speaker said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had called for the lifting of sanctions from Iran so that the country can access resources to fight the disease.
Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hamid has distributed money among families of five police officials who have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.
The CCPO inquired after the health of the sick officials and was told that they were getting better. The families expressed satisfaction over the treatment provided to the police officials.
Sindh police claimed to have arrested 166 people for violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The charges against the arrested also include hoarding of masks and sanistisers.
According to police, a total of 1,464 people have been arrested in the province for violating Section 144 since March 23, when the Sindh government imposed the ongoing lockdown.
Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on information, Ajmal Wazir, stated that there are currently around 5,000 Tableeghi Jamaat members in the province, of which 30 per cent are from KP.
He stated that the CM had directed officials to provide those members that had tested positive for Covid-19 all possible medical facilities and resources.
"They will all be tested before being sent to their respective provinces," he said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top government figures will take a 30 per cent salary cut this year, Reuters reported while quoting a government minister.
The decision has been taken as the country tackles the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the economy.
The federal cabinet has approved a decree under which Modi, along with President Ram Nath Kovind, state governors and members of parliament, will take the salary cut as part of their social responsibility, cabinet minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has agreed to provide pilots and plane crew members with personal protective equipment, including gloves and N-95 masks, which were recently brought from China.
Planes will also be sprayed thrice with a disinfectant spray before they take off, the PIA spokesperson said.
Pakistan Airline Pilots Association had earlier demanded the government to look into safety measures taken for pilots.
The Punjab government has extended the partial lockdown in the province till April 14, according to Radio Pakistan.
According to a notification issued, the provincial government has asked citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Police has arrested protesting doctors near Red Zone in Quetta.
According to Young Doctors Association (YDA) president Dr Yasir Achakzai, YDA and paramedical staff in Balochistan staged a protest against the unavailability of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) in their fight against Covid-19.
They were later baton-charged by security forces and dozens of them were arrested near Red Zone, he alleged.
"Yes, the police arrested dozens of protesting doctors today," Razzaq Cheema, Quetta deputy inspector general police, confirmed, not commenting on the allegations of high-handedness.
The president of YDA also announced a boycott of young doctors' services from government hospitals. "We suspend all our services following highhandedness of police," Dr Yasir Khan said.
A video, allegedly of the protest, has also been making rounds on social media.
Spain’s pace of new coronavirus deaths has slowed for the fourth day as the government contemplated a gradual easing of a lockdown since mid-March in the country with the second highest death toll from the pandemic, Reuters reported.
Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said it was crucial going forward to widen testing to enable restrictions to be lifted.
“We are preparing ourselves for de-escalation for which it is important to know who is contaminated,” she said.
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National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal said that there are over 3,800 ventilators available in the country, while an additional 2,000 will be imported from China, reported Radio Pakistan.
Briefing a meeting of the parliamentary committee in Islamabad, he said that 500 ventilators will reach Pakistan by Thursday while 29,000 protective kits for doctors and paramedical staff have been distributed to the provinces.
The characters of animated film Donkey King have made a united comeback to fight against the novel coronavirus with a brand new anthem, Darna Nahi, Larna Hai.
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At least two more deaths have been reported in Punjab, according to provincial primary and secondary health department spokesperson Qaiser Asif, taking the provincial death toll to 15.
Of these deaths, seven have been reported in Lahore, four in Rawalpindi, one in Rahim Yar Khan, one in Faisalabad and one in Gujrat, he added.
Punjab has reported another 191 cases, according to provincial primary and secondary health department spokesperson Qaiser Asif, taking the provincial total to 1,684.
Punjab government has directed private schools in the province to give 20 per cent concession in tuition fee in addition to collecting the fees of the following two months separately.
Furthermore, no employee shall lose their job, Buzdar said.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has berated the government's efforts to combat the novel coronavirus, saying that "nothing is being done on ground".
While hearing an appeal against Islamabad High Court's verdict regarding the release of under-trial prisoners due to the coronavirus outbreak, the chief justice said that the government had closed OPDs of all hospitals, leaving no place for patients to seek treatment.
"Hospitals have been closed when we need them. Up till now, 10 hospitals with 1,000 beds each should have been made operational.
"Everyone is talking about funds, no one is doing anything. The public has been left at the mercy of God," he remarked. The chief justice also criticised government's efforts to encourage people to stay indoors in order to curb the spread of the disease.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed officials to establish intensive care units (ICUs) at six hospitals in Karachi.
Chairing a meeting of the provincial health department, the chief minister said that the ICUs will be set up at Civil Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Lyari General Hospital, Trauma Centre, Dow Ojha Campus and Services Hospital.
"We are preparing wards in advance so that there isn't an issue in the future in case of an emergency," the chief minister said.
Pakistan national cricket team's bowling coach Waqar Younis said that he is ready to become a part of Prime Minister Imran Khan's Corona Tiger Relief Force.
Addressing a video conference in Karachi, Younis said: "I have known Imran for a long time. He is taking decisions — regarding the coronavirus situation in the country — after careful deliberation."
Pakistan government has decided to open the Chaman and Torkham border points for four days, starting from today so that Afghan nationals who wish to return to their country can travel, Radio Pakistan reported.
According to the Foreign Office, the borders were opened on Afghan government's request.
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The Punjab government has issued a notification outlining the rules under which welfare activities can be carried out in the province.
"Any individual, organisation or any other entity that intends to undertake philanthropic activity on its own, shall have to submit an application to the deputy commissioner [...] who shall determine the mode, area and extent of the activity," the statement reads.
The Sindh health department has issued guidelines for burying those who have died due to the coronavirus.
According to the guidelines, the deceased but not be touched and those performing the burial must maintain distance and minimise exposure.
Japan's medical staff say a shortage of beds and a rise in cases linked to hospitals are pushing Tokyo’s medical system to the brink of collapse, Reuters reported.
The crisis has already arrived at Eiju General Hospital, a pink, 10-storey building in central Tokyo, which has reported 140 cases of Covid-19 in the past two weeks. Of those, at least 44 are doctors, nurses and other medical staff.
On a recent weekday, the glass doors of Eiju General were plastered with posters saying the hospital was closed until further notice.
Japan is facing a fresh wave of coronavirus infections and the government is preparing for a state of emergency.
In response to questions if UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson — who is hospitalised due to continuing symptoms of the coronavirus — should temporarily step back, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that the premier "remains in charge of the government", Reuters reported.
Jenrick added that he expects Johnson to return to Number 10, Downing Street shortly.
New Zealand will stick to its tough curbs to combat the coronavirus, despite some early signs the spread of the illness has been stabilising, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
“Our actions for the remainder of the period in level four will be about doubling down to ensure the gains made in the first half are not squandered in the second,” Ardern told reporters in Wellington, according to Reuters.
“I don't want New Zealand to be at level four for a minute longer than needed, but equally there is no plan to move from level four early,” Ardern added.