ISLAMABAD: The death toll from the novel coronavirus has surpassed the grim landmark of 18,000 on Sunday as another 113 people lost their lives from disease.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported another 4,414 cases and 113 deaths in the previous 24-hour period day. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 829,933 while the death toll stands at 18,070.
There were 45,275 samples were tested in the past day, while the positivity ratio was 9.74 percent. Overall 722,202 people have recovered from the virus, including 5,193 in the past day. The number of active cases has reached 89,661 while there are 5,448 people remain in critical condition.
Punjab remains the most affected region and the only province to have recorded over 300,000 cases. There are 304,889 cases and 8,550 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province stands at 46,306. Islamabad has recorded 75,892 cases and 691 deaths while there are 12,242active cases in the federal capital.
The number of coronavirus cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 119,277 and 3,350 deaths while there are 12,006 active cases in the province. Sindh has recorded 284,738 cases and 4,658 deaths while Balochistan has recorded 22,528 cases and 237 deaths.
READ MORE: COVID-19 fears: Pakistan reduces inbound international flights to 20%
Amid the surging cases and expected movement of people ahead of Eid holidays, the NCOC has announced to curtail inbound international flights to Pakistan to 20 percent from May 5-20.
According to the notification, there would be no change in existing Category C list countries. However, Pakistani passport holders are allowed to travel to Pakistan subject to exemption. The decision will be reviewed on May 18.
The NCOC also listed testing and quarantine protocols for inbound flights to Pakistan that require a mandatory negative RT PCR test, conducted a maximum of 72 hours before travelling to Pakistan.
Negative cases will undergo 10 days of self-quarantine at home. However, positive cases will be shifted by the provincial/ district administration to a self-paid facility for 10 days quarantine and a repeat PCR test will be conducted.
The NCOC stated that registration on the Passtrack App by all inbound travellers before travelling to Pakistan is mandatory, however, deportees are exempted from registration on the app.
