ISLAMABAD — A total of 4,960 new coronavirus cases have surfaced in the country over the last 24 hours taking the total tally to 98,943. These include 37,090 in Punjab, 36,364 in Sindh, 13,001 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6,221 in Balochistan, 4,979 in Islamabad, 927 in Gilgit Baltistan and 361 in Azad Kashmir.

The death toll from the virus stands at 2002 with 67 deaths reported over the last 24 hours. And 23,100 corona tests were also carried out during this period. A total of 33,645 patients have so far recovered from the disease.

The Covid-19 respiratory illness caused by this mysterious contagion has so far infected more than 6.5 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world — and over 387,000 of them have died and counting.

Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained coronavirus-free until Feb. 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive after returning from Iran — one of the worst-hit countries. After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus.

Nearly one and a half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to ease the lockdown in phases. — Agencies