With eight more deaths reported by Saturday afternoon, the death toll caused by the coronavirus pandemic reached 80 and the number of cases shot up to 4,966.

On the other hand, the virus was found in another 186 people, meaning that the total number of cases has now reached 4,966. Six of the eight deaths were reported from while two were registered in Punjab.

Meanwhile, 70 patients are stated to be in a critical condition while 762 of them have so far fully recovered.

Sindh now tops the list with 28 deaths followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 25, Punjab 21, Gilgit-Baltistan three, Balochistan two and Islamabad one.

As far as testing is concerned, 2,457 new tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, meaning a total of 57,836 tests have so far been conducted.

If we look at the province-wise distribution of coronavirus cases, 2,410 have been recorded in Punjab, making it the most affected province of the country.

Sindh remained second with 1,318 followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 656, Balochistan 220, Gilgit-Baltistan 215, Islamabad 114 and Azad Kashmir 34.

Earlier on Friday, Dr Zafar Mirza – special assistant to the prime minister on health – dispelled the impression that coronavirus could not affect young people.

He told a media briefing that over 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan were of less than 50 years of age, which was an alarming phenomenon.

Also on Friday. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed took his first suo motu regarding the shortage of facilities in hospitals.

According to the notice, the step was taken in view of the inadequate measures put in place by the authorities at hospitals to fight coronavirus pandemic.

A five-member larger bench will hear the matter on April 13 (Monday).