Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Coronavirus Cases in Pakistan Spike; Dozens of Cases Reported

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan jumped Monday
   from 52 to more than 180, with most of the patients being returnees
   from Iran. The situation has raised fears the outbreak could pose a
   major challenge to an already strained national health'¯care system.

   No deaths or confirmed local transmissions have been reported, and
   officials say
   almost'¯all of'¯the cases involve returnees from countries such as
   China, Iran, Syria,'¯the'¯United States,'¯Britain'¯and Saudi Arabia.
   Most of the patients were in the southern Sindh province,
   where'¯146'¯people were'¯being kept in isolation wards. Two others were
   sent home after recovery.'¯Hundreds more were in quarantine camps in
   different provincial urban centers.
   Provincial government spokesman Murtaza Wahab'¯noted'¯a large number
   of'¯the cases'¯involved'¯pilgrims who'¯returned'¯from'¯Taftaan, a major
   southwestern crossing point on the Iranian border in the Pakistani
   province of Baluchistan.
   Local officials have warned an unspecified number of returnees used
   traditional illegal border crossings to avoid being placed in
   quarantine camps, raising fears of further transmissions.

.