Pakistan announced on Saturday it is suspending for a fortnight all international passenger flights into and out of the country in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

During a press briefing, Moeed Yusuf said, “We are suspending international flight operations effective tonight at 8:00 pm (1500 GMT),” the prime minister’s special assistant on national security.

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“No international flights will be allowed to land in Pakistan for two weeks.”

As of Saturday, Pakistan had tested 4,046 people for the virus, with 524 positive cases and three deaths.

Yusuf said a few flights already en route to Pakistan would be able to land Sunday morning, adding that diplomats coming to Pakistan as well as cargo planes would be exempted.

Earlier this week, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called for unity with responsibility to win the war against coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

During a speech, PM Khan said, “We need to protect ourselves and others to prove that we are a responsible nation. Do not panic. The government will try its best to control the disease, provide medical facilities and ensure supplies.”

On Tuesday, Pakistan reported the first coronavirus death, while the number of confirmed cases increased to 193 with the emergence of 10 new infections, the Ministry of National Health Services announced.

The country has closed all public and private educational institutions, marriage halls, cultural centres, cinemas, and cancelled all sports activities and official events and also blocked its western border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan.