MM News

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported fourteen more fatalities from the novel coronavirus during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll from the disease to 6,759.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 825 fresh infections emerged during this period as the national tally of cases reaches 330,200. There are a total of 11,627 active cases while 311,814 patients have recuperated from the disease.

Sindh has reported 144,449 cases, followed by Punjab that has reported 103,314 cases while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 39,189, Balochistan 15,859, Islamabad 19,300, Gilgit Baltistan 4,200 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 3,839

Around 29,477 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours after which the spike in cases was reported. 611 of the patients under treatment in hospitals and 35 of them are said to be in critical condition.

This comes as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said Pakistan is currently experiencing the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing a press conference, the health adviser hinted at imposing new social distancing restrictions to curb the spread of the disease.

“The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has started in Pakistan and new restrictions could be introduced to control the spread of the virus,” the special assistant said. “Citizens are no longer taking precautionary measures even though the pandemic is far from over in the country.”

The SAPM said with the beginning of the second coronavirus wave, strict restrictions would need to be imposed again and a plan would would be chalked out soon.

He added that the restrictions would be tightened in the cities where the positivity ratio of the virus was high, saying citizens cannot be allowed to visit public places without wearing masks.

The PM’s aide said new recommendations would be presented soon in consultation in all the provinces. He said that business timings across the country could be reduced in view of the spike in cases.

He added that fines would be imposed for violating coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs). The government is also planning to set up a hotline so that the citizens could inform the authorities about the violation of coronavirus guidelines.