Pakistan records highest-ever deaths due to COVID-19

Pakistan on Wednesday reported more than 200 deaths due to the COVID-19, the highest number of fatalities in a single day, according to the official data.

The death toll jumped to 17,530 after 201 fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.

It said that 5,214 patients were in critical condition.

The data showed that 157 people died on April 23, which broke the record of 153 deaths reported on June 20 last year. However, a new record was created within a week, showing the ferocity of the pandemic.

In the last 24 hours, at least 5,292 new cases were reported, taking the national tally to 810,231.

The ministry reported that another 4,678 persons were reported as having recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recuperated people to 704,494.

The number of active patients was 88,207.

The authorities performed 49,101 tests on the last day, registering a positivity rate of 10.78 percent.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that due to the increasing number of deaths and spike in the positive cases, Prime Minister Imran Khan might order a lockdown of the worst-hit cities.

The issue of the pandemic was discussed in the Cabinet and the Prime Minister "directed that food supplies should be improved if we go for a complete lockdown," he said.

The government has already postponed the examination until mid-June to arrest the spread.