ISLAMABAD: The single-day coronavirus infections soared to over 4,000 as Pakistan reported another 63 deaths during the last 24 hours, showed the figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday morning.
With the addition of 4,368 new infections, the highest numbers since July 3, 2020, the number of positive cases has now surged to 645,356 with the nationwide tally of fatalities jumping to 14,091, after adding the 63 new deaths.
As usual, Sindh remained the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.
Most numbers of casualties have been reported in Punjab. So far, 264,062 coronavirus cases have now been confirmed in Sindh, 207,765 in Punjab, 82,677 in KP, 19,427 in Balochistan, 54,347 in Islamabad, 12,095 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and 4,983 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
As many as 6,142 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab, 4,486 in Sindh, 2,260 in KP, 205 in Balochistan, 555 in Islamabad, 340 in AJK and 103 in GB. Pakistan has so far conducted 9,976,791 coronavirus tests and 42,418 during the last 24 hours (Thursday) with 591,145 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,758 patients were in critical condition.
According to data shared by the spokesperson of the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD), 1,566 new cases were reported in Lahore, 11 in Kasur, 19 in Sheikhupura, 17 in Nankana Sahib, 126 in Rawalpindi, four in Attock, nine in Jehlum, one in Chakwal, 58 in Gujranwala, 12 in Mandi Bahauddin, seven in Narowal, four in Hafizabad, 72 in Sialkot, 61 in Gujrat, 190 in Faisalabad, 21 in Toba Tek Singh, eight in Chineot, seven in Jhang, 45 in Sargodha, four in Mianwali, three in Khoshab, five in Bhakkar, 83 in Multan, 10 in Vehari, three in Khanewal, two in Lodharan, five in Dera Ghazi Khan, 33 in Rahimyar Khan, 17 in Bahawalpur, eight in Bahawalnagar, 13 in Okara, four in Pakpattan and 20 new cases were reported in Sahiwal district during the last 24 hours.
In light of these numbers, the Punjab health department has urged the masses to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs), stressing the need to cover one’s face with a mask, to wash hands frequently, and to maintain social distance.
Lahore continues to witness a surge in Covid-19 cases as 1,566 new infections surfaced in the provincial capital overnight – the highest in 10 months.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) President Ashraf Nizami termed the 18 per cent positivity rate “alarming”. He stressed that the Punjab government needs to declare a health emergency in the province right away, calling for tougher restrictions to halt the spread of the virus.
VACCINATIONS FOR 50 AND ABOVE CITIZENS:
Covid-19 vaccine registration for Pakistani above 50 years of age will start from March 30, announced NCOC chief Asad Umar on Friday.
He encouraged everyone falling in that age group to get registered.
Registration for people over 60 is ongoing. The two-dose Sinopharm vaccine is being given in this phase.
People over 60-70 years can text message their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number without spaces and dashes to the government’s official 1166 number to register.
You can send a text message from any mobile phone number, and the government would text message the citizen back with the following information:
- Your vaccine centre
- The date
- Your PIN code (which the vaccinator will ask for to verify it is you at the centre)
- Vaccination centres are open from 9 am to 5 pm.
You can also register for your vaccination at the government’s website: nims.nadra.gov.pk
Pakistan is still awaiting doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine through COVAX. India, whose Serum Institute is producing the vaccine, has delayed deliveries as it prioritises its own population.
The Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine reached Karachi on March 18. The consignment arrived at Jinnah International Airport. Local drug firm AG Pharma Ltd received it. “This is the first shipment of 50,000 doses which came last night only,” said an official of AGP.
The price of two doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been fixed at Rs8,500 by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
The Cambridge International Examination (CIE) board has confirmed that O Level and IGCSE exams in Pakistan will start on May 15. The exams were scheduled for April 26 and have been rescheduled at the request of the education ministry.
As many as 4,474 senior citizens have so far been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Faisalabad district.
District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Ata Al-Moenum said on Friday that the vaccination process continued at five vaccination centres, established in the district, from 8 am to 8 pm daily.
He said that the centres had been established at Sports Complex Samanabad, Rural Health Centre Khurarianwala new building, Sports Complex Chak Jhumra, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Tandlianwala new building and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Sammundari new building.
