ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced to lock down east Punjab province hours after locking down south Sindh province to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after the number of infected patients rose above 800 across the country, official s said.

All markets and shopping malls, except grocery shops and medical stores, would remain closed in Punjab during the two-week lockdown period from March 24 to April 6, Provincial Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said in a press briefing.