Pakistani PM calls for self-discipline as COVID-19 cases rise to 8,418

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the nation to practice self-discipline and adopt precautionary measures as the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has risen to 8,418.

"The more people show self-discipline, the easier it will be for us to manage the COVID-19 plus ease the lockdown gradually," Khan said on Twitter, urging people to stay at home as much as possible during this pandemic.

According to the data updated by the country's health ministry on Monday morning, a total of 3,721 cases have so far been reported in Pakistan's east Punjab province, 2,537 in south Sindh province, 1,235 in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 432 in southwest Balochistan province, 263 in north Gilgit-Baltistan region, and 181 in the capital Islamabad.

The ministry said that 1,970 patients have so far recovered while the death toll from the virus stands at 176 with 17 new deaths reported during the last 24 hours. Similarly, 425 new confirmed cases were reported during the last 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operation Center of Pakistan, local transmission of COVID-19 is 64 percent while cases from foreign travel are 36 percent in the country.

Meanwhile, Pakistani President Arif Alvi has urged the electronic and print media to highlight social distancing phenomenon at gatherings in mosques as agreed between the government and the religious scholars.

The worshipers should also be educated so that they ensure social distancing for their own protection and that of others, the president said.