The total number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has risen to 32, as first case was reported in Lahore on late Saturday.

The patient returned from abroad a couple of days ago.

Two cases were also reported in Karachi on Saturday.

The patient has no travel history, however his parents have recently returned from Europe, confirmed the Sindh Health Department. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the health department to conduct tests of the parents as well.

Earlier, a patient arrived from Saudi Arab a few days back and was tested positive today, said a twitter statement by Sindh Health Department.

This brings the total number of cases to 17 in Sindh out of which 2 have recovered and sent home and 15 are under treatment,” the statement added.

Karachi has been the worst affected city so far. Five cases have been reported in Gilgit-Baltistan and one case each in Hyderabad, Quetta and Islamabad.

Earlier the same day, the Capital Territory of Islamabad reported its first coronavirus case.

The patient admitted to PIMS on Saturday was a 30-year-old woman who had travelled from the US to Pakistan a few days ago.

The officials at Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS) said that the patient had been placed on a ventilator as her condition was critical.

The woman was brought to PIMS after initially being admitted to a private hospital for two days.

More than 5,000 people have died and over 145,000 infected globally by COVID-19 as the disease continues to spread in new territories.

With China recovering fast, the WHO says the epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe - which is recording a high rate of new cases every day.