The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus ‘COVID-19’ infections in Pakistan has risen to 16 after nine more cases emerged in the southern port city of Karachi on Monday, March 10.
Karachi has been the worst affected city so far, with 13 of the total confirmed cases. The remaining 2 are in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1 has been reported from Islamabad.
Six of the newly diagnosed patients had returned to Pakistan from Syria via Doha, Qatar, while the other 3 arrived from London via Dubai. The first 7 diagnosed cases had traveled to Pakistan from Iran.
Strict measures have been taken by the government, including extending border closure with Afghanistan for seven more days and installing screening machines at all major airports in the country.
Globally, the virus has killed more than 4,000 people and infected over 110,000.
The novel coronavirus believed to have emerged in December at a market that sold wild animals in Wuhan, China.
The border with Iran was re-opened on Saturday, March 7 — 14 days after it had been closed for all trade activities. Pilgrims returning from Iran are continuing to be quarantined at Pakistan House at the Taftan border.
