The number of coronavirus cases jumped to 22,550 after the confirmation of 1,049 new infections during the past 24 hours, the official figures showed on Wednesday morning.

According to National Command and Operation Centre, a total of 6,217 people have recovered and the active cases currently stand at 15,807 in the country.

During the same period, 40 more deaths were recorded in Pakistan after which the death toll climbed to 526,

A look at the distribution of coronavirus cases shows that Punjab has reported 8,420 followed by Sindh 8,189, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa3,499, Balochistan 1,495, Islamabad 485, Gilgit-Baltistan 386 and Azad Kashmir 76.

Meanwhile, the improvement in testing capabilities meant that 10,178 tests were conducted during the past 24 hours after which the total reached 232,582.

Unfortunately, the number of people dying from the virus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has now increased to 194.

But 20 more deaths were reported in Punjab during the past 24 hours after which the total for the province climbed to 156.

Sindh is third in the list with 148 deaths followed by Balochistan 21, Islamabad four and Gilgit-Baltistan three.

The spike in cases and deaths came amid reports that the federal cabinet had decided to further ease the countrywide lockdown restrictions.

The decision came during a meeting of the cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday.

It was also decided that the prime minister and his cabinet members, including all federal ministers, the premier’s advisers and special assistants will donate their one month’s salary to the PM’s Corona Relief Fund.