ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported a rise in coronavirus cases on Monday, as the country witnesses the rapid spread of Omicron variant.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 1,649 cases and three deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 1,304,707 while the death toll stands at 28,972.
The positivity ratio has risen to 3.66%, while the number of active cases has increased to 17,748 after the surge in cases. There were 45,002 tests conducted in the previous day leading to new cases.
There are 617 people who still remain in critical condition including 13 new patients in the previous day. Overall 1,258,987 people have recovered from the virus, including 330 in the past day.
Sindh has recorded the highest number of cases and remains the worst affected region. The province has recorded 487,668 cases and 7,681 deaths while there are 11,161 active cases.
Punjab has recorded 448,091 cases and 13,080 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province remains 5,147. Islamabad has recorded 109,396 cases and 967 deaths while there are 760 active cases in the federal capital.
The number of cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 181,757 and 5,943 deaths, while Balochistan has recorded 33,659 cases and 367 deaths. Gilgit Baltistan had recorded 10,432 cases and 186 deaths while Azad Kashmir has recorded 34,704 cases and 748 deaths.
15% positivity ratio in Karachi
Karachi has witnessed an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases with the virus positivity ratio recorded at more than 15%, officials from the Sindh health department said.
According to the head of Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory (DDRRL), 87% patients were affected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, of whom 60% were women.
The Sindh government has decided to start a door-to-door vaccination campaign next week. The Sindh health department has provided COVID-19 vaccines to dozens of private hospitals and laboratories.
Health officials have warned against complacency fully vaccinated people are also being affected and in some cases those who have taken a booster shot.
The provincial health department has urged citizens to complete their vaccinations, get booster shots if applicable, and warned them to not pay any fee for the vaccine at any private hospital or laboratory.
