ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continues to witness a decline in the number of coronavirus cases as it reported less than 2,000 cases on Friday, while the positivity ratio was at the lowest level in three months.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 1,893 cases and 83 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 928,588 while the death toll stands at 21,105.
There were 52,859 tests conducted in the past day, while the positivity ratio has dropped to 3.58%. The number of active cases in the country has also reduced to 51,478 while 3,557 patients remain in critical condition. Overall 856,005 people have recovered from the virus, including 3,431 in the past day.
Punjab remains the most affected region and has recorded 341,390 cases and 10,184 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province has reduced to 16,872. Islamabad has recorded 81,540 cases and 763 deaths while there are 3,715 active cases in the federal capital.
Sindh has recorded 321,425 cases and 5,089 deaths while the number of active cases in the province has increased to 24,335. The number of coronavirus cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 133,746 and 4,125 deaths while Balochistan has recorded 25,476 cases and 287 deaths.
Situation in Sindh
The country is reporting a decline in coronavirus cases amid the third wave, however, Sindh is still reporting a spike in cases and has extended lockdown restrictions.
A day earlier, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho that said despite the efforts of the government, people are still hesitant to get themselves vaccinated. The health minister said Sindh would ease restriction once people start getting themselves inoculated.
Dr Pechuho said all members of the national and provincial assemblies have been inoculated for the coronavirus vaccine. She added that the ratio of coronavirus positive cases in Karachi still above 11 percent and hospitals are still receiving coronavirus positive patients. She added that Sindh has mandated all provincial government employees to get inoculated against the virus.
Regarding the COVID-19 restrictions which are in place across Sindh at the moment, Dr Pechuho said restrictions would only be eased when people will start getting themselves vaccinated.
She said the government is planning to vaccinate people at home, while a mobile vaccination service will also be launched soon. She added that the government has set a target of inoculating more than 18 million people within three months.
Dr Pechuho said that 17.26 million of Sindh’s population comprises people aged 30 and below, while 1.5 million people have so far been vaccinated. The health minister said that Sindh has asked the Centre to ensure an uninterrupted supply of vaccines to the province.
