Pakistan's coronavirus cases rise to 30,941; death toll at 667

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients crossed 30,000 in Pakistan after the emergence of nearly 1,300 new infections, while the death toll stood at 667, it was reported on Monday.

The country registered its highest number of cases for three consecutive days with the government lifting the coronavirus-induced lockdown in phases.

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, 1,476 new COVID-19 patients were identified during the last 24 hours.

A total of 28 more people have died in the same period, taking the tally of COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan to 667, it said, adding that 8,212 people have recovered.

Out of the total 30,941 cases, Punjab reported 11,568 infections, Sindh 11,480, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 4,669, Balochistan 2,017, Islamabad 679, Gilgit-Baltistan 442 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 86.

So far, the authorities have conducted 294,894 tests, including 11,369 in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.

An army officer was among the new COVID-19 fatalities reported.

Pakistani healthcare professionals across the country have also started testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the past few days, with at least 257 confirmed infections among doctors and paramedics between May 5 and May 9.

On Sunday Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said 709 new cases were reported in the province, currently the worst hit, in the past 24 hours pushing its tally to 11,480.

Officials have recorded more than 4.13 million cases and more than 281,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.

(With inputs from agencies)