PESHAWAR: The death toll due to coronavirus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached 1,028 as eight more people died of the infection on Sunday.

The province also reported 273 new cases, raising the overall tally of infected patients to 28,116, according to report of health department. It said that 186 patients recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours, making the number of recovered people in the province 16,428.

Five deaths occurred in Peshawar where total number of people dying of Covid-19 reached 491, the highest number recorded by any district in the province. The provincial capital detected 145 more patients, making its total score of confirmed cases 9,884.

The provincial capital is also ahead of other districts in terms of positive cases.

Lockdown imposed in Peshawar’s Tehkal Bala area

Two people died of the pandemic in Abbottabad where total number of deaths due to the virus rose to 55. The district also confirmed 13 more patients, making its total number of cases 1,173.

One person died in Karak where tally of deceased persons from the infection reached 13. With one positive case, count of confirmed patients reached 381 in the district.

Swat, which has so far recorded 93 fatalities due to the virus, reported 13 new patients, raising its total count of positive cases to 2,619. Swat is the second hard-hit district after Peshawar, both in number of deaths and confirmed cases in the province.

In Malakand, 22 new cases of Covid-19 were detected where the number of confirmed patients reached 1,328. The district has so far reported 37 deaths from the virus.

The number of cases in Nowshera now stands at 771 with 11 new patients. The district has so far registered 44 fatalities from the infection.

Orakzai tribal district detected 10 new patients where total cases reached 99. It has also witnessed death of two persons from the virus so far.

In Kurram, nine new patients were diagnosed with Covid-19, making its total number of cases 477. The number of people falling prey to the virus is six so far in the district.

In Haripur, total confirmed patients reached 534 with nine new cases. The district has so far seen nine fatalities from the infection.

In Mardan, where 52 persons have breathed their last due to the disease so far, nine new cases were registered, making its overall score of confirmed patients 1,122. Charsadda reported five new cases, which made its total number of patients 735. In the district, 13 people have passed away due to the virus so far.

The Covid-19 is now widespread in the province as there is no district free of the virus.

Meanwhile, Peshawar deputy commissioner ordered lockdown in Tehkal Bala union council, a congested neighbourhood, from Monday.

In this regard a notification was issued by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali Asghar under different provisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Epidemic Control and Emergency Relief Ordinance, 2020, and National Disaster Management Authority (KP) Act, 2010.

According to the notification no general entry or exit to this locality by any person, except those supplying essential commodities, shall be allowed. All types of gatherings in the locality are prohibited.

All shops other than those of essential services will remain closed in the neighbourhood. It has been ordered that congregation in mosques in the area should be restricted to five persons only.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2020