ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday that the highest positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in the country has been recorded in Karachi.
According to NCOC data, the national positivity rate is 5.8%. Karachi has the highest positivity rate in the country at 15.7% followed by Peshawar at 15.5 % and Mirpur is the third-highest with 9.2%.
Meanwhile, Sindh has a positivity rate of 8.1%, Punjab 4.7%, Balochistan 3.8% and KP 5.3%. Whereas, Islamabad’s positivity rate stands at 3.3%, Gilgit-Baltistan 1.4 percent and AJK at 8.5%.
In the last 24 hours, Sindh reported 953 new Covid-19 cases and 22 more fatalities. Karachi has so far confirmed five cases of the new UK COVID-19 variant in UK returnees.
Earlier, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechoho in a statement said that about 250,000 doses of vaccine will be given to Sindh, after the second week of this month in collaboration with the National Vaccine Task Force and NCOC. Every COVID-19 patient will be given two doses of the vaccine at 21-day intervals, Dr Azra added.
The provincial health official informed that in the first phase, health professionals and front line workers on duty in the hospital wards of COVID19 will be vaccinated. She said that the second phase of the vaccine will cover people over the age of 60 and then people with various diseases.
Azra Fazl Pechuhu said that 5,000 people would be vaccinated in a day through the process. The Sindh Health Minister instructed the officials concerned to compile data of front line workers attached with the private hospitals.
Dr. Azra Pechoho said that the individuals undergoing the vaccination phase will also be given a card that will also be used for travel purposes.
She said that 50 cubicles will be established in Karachi Expo Center, for the vaccination of the 5,000 people, in a day. Apart from Karachi, vaccination facilities will also be provided in treasury hospitals in other cities of Sindh, she said.
