ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported nearly a hundred deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday as it continues to grapple with the fourth wave of the coronavirus.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 3,316 cases and 98 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 1,186,234 while the death toll stands at 26,330.
The positivity ratio was recorded at 6.33% across the country. There were 52,314 tests conducted in the previous day leading to new cases. There are still 92,315 active cases of the virus in the country. There are 5,478 people who remain in critical condition. Overall 1,067,589 people have recovered from the virus, including 3,270 in the past day.
Sindh has recorded the highest number of cases in the country. The province has recorded 439,119 cases and 6,995 deaths while the number of active cases has reached 48,669.
Punjab has recorded 405,005 cases and 12,096 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province has reached 26,478. Islamabad has recorded 101,249 cases and 877 deaths while there are 6,239 active cases in the federal capital.
The number of cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 165,512 and 45,130 deaths while Balochistan has recorded 32,411 cases and 342 deaths. Gilgit Baltistan had recorded 9,916 cases and 173 deaths while Azad Kashmir has recorded 32,879 cases and 712 deaths.
Masks in Karachi, Hyderabad
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has instructed citizens to use masks in public places in Karachi and Hyderabad. The Sindh Home Department sent a letter to the commissioners and deputy commissioners of Karachi and Hyderabad instructing them to make sure public masks are used within public places.
The home department also directed that measures should be taken to ensure that people wear face masks in hotels, restaurants and wedding halls.
Home Department has also called for taking steps so that masks are mandatory in bazaars, malls, educational institutions, and parks. It also directed for masks to be distributed free of cost in public spaces.
The Home Department has further ordered that banners asking people to wear masks should be issued and an advertising campaign should also be initiated encouraging to wear masks.
