Nationwide death toll due to Covid-19 has crossed 476, while confirmed cases have surged past 20,800 of which over 5,600 have recovered, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said.

According to the NCOC, the province-wise break up of the total number of cases is as follows: Sindh is at the top with 7,882 cases, followed by the Punjab 7,646 cases, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 3,288 cases, Balochistan 1,218 cases, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) 415 cases, the Gilgit-Baltistan 364 cases, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 71 cases.

So far, the coronavirus has claimed 476 lives in Pakistan of which 185 in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 137 in Sindh, 126 in Punjab, 21 in Balochistan, three in Gilgit-Baltistan, and four in the ICT.

Officials have recorded more than 3.5 million cases and more than 245,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is to provide more personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the doctors and paramedics working across the country hospitals.

According to the NDMA spokesman, the delivery of fourth consignment of the PPEs among the doctors and paramedics across the country hospitals, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, had already been completed. He said the testing kits had already been sent to the provinces in sufficient quantity.

The country wide hospitals had already been delivered 1,53,565 N-95 masks, 3,891,588 facemasks, 9,55,417 protective suits, 1,44,467 gowns, 1,033,643 gloves, 346,896 surgical caps, 36,520 face shields, 211,244 shoe covers, and 97,982 protective goggles.

Separate details of delivered PPEs have been uploaded at the website of the NDMA. The NDMA has issued an alert to all provincial authorities to ensure preventive measures as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rains and thunderstorms in upper and central parts of the country up to Wednesday.

According to the NDMA advisory released here, the National Highways Authority, (NHA), Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), Construction and Works (C&W) Departments of respective provinces and regions were directed to remain vigilant for restoring road links. The advisory added that availability of staff of emergency services should be ensured during the period of harsh weather.

"Travelers be apprised about weather forecast. In case of any eventuality, the respective provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) and relevant departments should share twice daily updates with the NDMA."

However, it was also shared in the advisory that relevant departments might issue necessary instructions to stakeholders in the light of fresh weather forecast.