Pakistan PM Khan Tests Positive for Virus: Health Minister

(Bloomberg) -- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tested positive for Covid-19, Health Minister Faisal Sultan said in a tweet on Saturday.

The prime minister is self-isolating at home, the health minister said. Khan was vaccinated on Thursday after the country initiated its inoculation campaign with more than a million free Sinopharm Group Co. doses from China.

Pakistan is experiencing a new wave of infections and has imposed restrictions in most of the main urban areas. Limits on wedding halls, cinemas and outdoor dining have been extended until April 15, and lockdowns will continue in the worst-affected provinces. The government will review the curbs on April 12.

Authorities on Saturday reported new 3,876 infections, the highest daily toll since July.

The country’s total number of coronavirus cases was 623,135 as of Saturday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. The virus has claimed at least 14,000 lives.

Pakistan’s central bank on Friday left its key lending rate at the lowest in almost three years to support a nascent economic recovery amid the resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

Pakistan Holds Rate to Support Growth As Virus Cases Rise

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.