Coronavirus claims lives of five more people, country's death toll reaches 45

• At least 15 people died in Sindh, 14 in Punjab while 12 patients fell victim to the disease in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
• 172 new cases were reported taking the tally of confirmed patients to 2,880.
• So far, 170 patients have recovered while 18 patients are in critical condition.

(Karachi) Five patients suffering from coronavirus died during the last 24 hours taking the total number of fatalities across the country to 45, National Command and Operation Centre has reported.

Of the total number of deaths, 15 people died in Sindh, 14 in Punjab while 12 patients fell victim to the disease in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country as the tally reaches 2,880 after emergence of 172 new cases during the last 24 hours.

Official data transpired that 1,163 cases have been reported in Punjab, 864 in Sindh, 372 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 185 in Balochistan, 78 in Islamabad, 206 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 12 cases in Azad Kashmir.

So far, 170 patients have recovered while 18 patients are in critical condition.

The number of cases has continued to soar despite the country being under a lockdown for the third consecutive week.

Sindh government announced a 15-day lockdown starting March 23 while Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir followed suit. Balochistan and K-P were under a partial lockdown with minimum movement while Section 144 was imposed in Islamabad.

Educational institutions, shopping malls, markets, restaurants, and other private businesses remained closed while inter-provincial and inter-city transport was also suspended. Factories, banks and the financial sector was directed to reduce work hours.