Nine more patients test positive in capital

The coronavirus cases have started to increase as in last 24 hours, as many as nine more patients were tested positive in the federal capital, taking the tally to 154 on Friday.

Out of 154 patients in the capital city, 20 patients have recovered and one has died, according to the official data.

Majority of the COVID-19 positive cases have been reported from the city's rural areas of Bhara Kahu, Shehzad Town, Lohi Bher, Taramri and some other areas, an official said, adding that out of 154, 90 people had isolated in their homes.

The country's tally of the COVID-19 infections has reached 7,025. According to the official data, Punjab has 3,276 cases followed by Sindh 2,008, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 993, Balochistan 303, Gilgit-Baltistan 245, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 46.

Till the filling of this report, 1,765 coronavirus patients have so far recovered, and 135 have died across the country.

Meanwhile, a limited of number of people offered Friday prayers at mosques in the federal capital following government, health experts' directions and guidance of religious scholars in the wake of spread of deadly coronavirus in the country.

According to a notification issued earlier by the Auqaf Department, following instruction of the government, health experts and guidance of religious scholars only three to five people including mosque staff can offer Friday prayers at the mosques, and other people have been asked to pray in their homes.

However, the violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for controlling spread of the COVID-19 continued in markets, which may cause an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

Following exemption given to hardware, stationery and book shops, hairdressers, auto workshops, tyre puncture, spare parts shops and tailors shops from lockdown by the government, people rushed to markets but neither customers nor shopkeepers have adopted SOPs. Huge rush of motorists was witnessed on various roads of the twin cities.

The district administration has continued disinfection spray in the affected areas and also conducted raids against the violators of partial lockdown.