Karachi, Mar 23 (IANS): Six district administration officials in Pakistan's Sindh province were suspended for taking a selfie with their colleague who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to authorities.

The authorities said the deputy commissioner of Khairpur issued a notification on Sunday ordering the suspension of the six revenue officials from different areas of the district who unknowingly held a close meeting with one of their colleagues who had returned from Iran and later tested positive for the deadly virus, rports Dawn news.

"Due to the information received through social media regarding selfie by the revenue staff with Irshad Ali Rajpar who recently returned from Iran and was reported as positive case of coronavirus, the following staff in the selfie are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect," said the notification.

On Monday, a 15-day lockdown came into effect in Sindh province which has reported the maximum number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Currently, the overall number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan increased to 799, including 352 from Sindh. The death toll currently stood at five.