Pakistan reports record 1,764 new cases in 24 hours; total death toll nears 600

A record 1,764 new coronavirus cases were reported in Pakistan in one day, taking the total number of patients in the country to 25,837.

The Ministry of National Health Service said that 35 patients died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 594.

As many as 7,530 people have so far recovered.

Punjab reported 10,033 patients, Sindh 9,093, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 3,956, Balochistan 1,725, Islamabad 558, Gilgit-Baltistan 394 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 78 patients, it said.

So far 257,247 tests have been conducted so far, including 11,993 in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the government on Thursday announced to start lifting lockdown from Saturday. It also said that the suspension of domestic flight operation will continue up to May 10. The earlier order was to expire on May 7.

The country will begin easing its nationwide lockdown in a phased manner by allowing various businesses to open up, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, citing the economic crisis due to the shutdown.