With people ignoring the provincial government’s orders amid the coronavirus outbreak, which led to at least 472 arrests on the first day of the lockdown on Monday, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah has hinted at imposing curfew across the province.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government had on Sunday imposed a 15-day lockdown effective March 23 as Pakistan continued to report cases of coronavirus. Across Sindh, six violators were on Monday arrested in Mirpur Khas, eight in Sukkur, 236 in Larkana and 222 in Karachi for violating the lockdown.

Separately, a total of 72 cases were registered across the province. In Karachi, 33 cases were registered, whereas two in Mirpurkhas, one in Sukkur, and 36 in Larkana.

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Speaking to a private media outlet, Shah said that the government would be left with no option other than imposing a curfew if people still did not take the lockdown orders seriously.

He once again appealed to the people to stay at home and support the government in the fight against COVID-19.

According to reports, the number of confirmed infections in Pakistan has reached 903. At least seven deaths have also been recorded with Punjab reporting its first on Tuesday.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said the patient was a 57-year-old and was under treatment at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital.