Zafar says 21 people died of coronavirus in country, 99 new cases reported in 24 hours

• Zafar says of the 1,625 patients in Pakistan, 10 are in critical condition.
• The cases of local transmission of disease are increasing day by day: Special assistant.
• NDMA chief says medical staff in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have been provided with enough supplies for five weeks to deal with coronavirus.

(Karachi) Special Assistant for Health Zafar Mirza has said that 99 coronavirus cases have been reported during the last 24 hours. He added that 21 people have so far died of the deadly disease.

Addressing media briefing in Islamabad on Monday, he said five people died of coronavirus in 24 hours. He said of the 1,625 patients in Pakistan, 10 are in critical condition while 783 people are being treated in different hospitals.

He said the cases of local transmission of the disease are increasing day by day. "Tests of 23 pilgrims in Sukkur quarantine centre have turned out to be negative," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal said that the most important priority is the frontline teams of doctors, nurses and medical teams.

He said medical staff in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have been provided with enough supplies for five weeks in order to deal with the pandemic. "Additional testing kits have been provided to the provinces to counter coronavirus."

Afzal said NDMA has opened a "one window" for hospitals in Islamabad, although they have been provided with supplies.

Prime Minister's Special Assistant on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Yousuf said reports that Pakistan Railways will resume operations as per schedule on April 1 are not true.

He added the government is considering resuming flight operations from April 5 but a decision in this regard has not been taken as yet. "There aren't any Pakistani transit passengers in airports abroad."