20 fatalities, and less than 500 cases reported in the 24 hours
20 coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours on September 1, with Balochistan the sole province to report no case fatalities for the twelfth consecutive day. Meanwhile, of the total casualties, six were reported in Sindh, with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirming five casualties each. Gilgit-Baltistan reported four fatalities after five days without virus-related fatalities.
441 fresh cases emerged across the country in the same timeframe, continuing a trend of gradually increasing cases for the third consecutive day. A total of 20,480 tests were performed with Punjab conducting the greatest number of tests (9,349) but detecting only 87 infections. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the other hand reported the greatest number of fresh cases (147) against 2,734 tests. Daily case positivity for September 1 recorded at 2.51%.
Risk package for rescue workers awaited
The Punjab government failed to disburse monetary awards promised to 1,500 frontline Rescue 1122 workers due April 1. Rescue 1122 workers directly tending to positive cases, handling COVID-19 victims’ bodies and involved in other coronavirus-related emergencies were to receive a risk allowance equal to their basic pay as well as a martyr package of Rs. 4 million for families of fallen rescue workers. However, neither reward have yet to be released for the past four months.