ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported less than one thousand cases on Saturday and the lowest daily coronavirus death toll in almost three months with 27 people losing their lives to the virus.
A day earlier, Pakistan reported the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate so far this year at 1.9%. The positivity rate has remained at around three percent for the past week. The last lowest daily death toll was on March 21 when 20 people died from the disease.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 991 cases and 27 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 946,218 while the death toll stands at 21,940.
There were 46,268 tests conducted in the past day, while the positivity ratio remained 2.14%. The number of active cases in the country has also reduced to 35,491 while 2,296 patients remain in critical condition. Overall 889,787 people have recovered from the virus, including 1,282 in the past day.
Punjab has recorded 344,799 cases and 10,615 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province has reduced to 10,259. Islamabad has recorded 82,313 cases and 775 deaths while there are 1,206 active cases in the federal capital.
Sindh has recorded 331,094 cases and 5,314 deaths while the number of active cases in the province has risen to 19,847. The number of coronavirus cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 136,819 and 4,257 deaths while Balochistan has recorded 26,529 cases and 300 deaths.
‘Vaccine Supply’
Amid reports of vaccine shortages, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar has asserted that the government was taking steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
He expressed his views while addressing a high-level session chaired by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin to review measures for ensuring the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine across the country.
The session was attended by also attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan and other concerned officials.
The planning minister further said all countries were adopting measures for ensuring the availability of vaccines. He added that the country is facing a financial load of payments for advanced vaccine supplies.
During the session, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan briefed the participants on contacts with ally countries to acquire the COVID-19 vaccine.
Tarin said that the federal government was making efforts to provide coronavirus vaccines to all nationals on a priority basis. He issued directives to ensure the continuation of supplies from the available credit line.
