Pakistan's daily death toll due to virus falls to single digits

The number of people dying of the coronavirus in Pakistan has fallen to a single-digit figure for the first time in three months, officials said on Sunday, calling the drop a hard-earned success thanks to strict social-distancing measures. The South Asian nation recorded only six deaths on Saturday and confirmed 553 new infections, the lowest levels since May, figures released on Sunday revealed.

And of all the people who are being tested, less than five per cent proved to be infected during the past three weeks, on average, compared to nearly 25 per cent in June.

In total, the country has recorded some 280,000 cases and confirmed nearly 6,000 deaths. So far, more than 80 per cent of people infected with the disease have recovered.

In June, the government adopted a policy of sealing off virus hotspots in major cities, after a nationwide lockdown for nearly two months.

The authorities have now enforced a week-long shutdown that runs until 5 August, to prevent the virus from spreading during the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha that was celebrated on Saturday.

"We believe our curve has flattened... and it is a hard-earned success," said Asad Umar, the minister leading the nation's battle against the pandemic. (dpa)