MM News

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday morning reported more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day, data from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) showed, as the Omicron variant continues to push infection rates across the country.

As per the latest statistics of the NCOC, a total of 51,236 tests were conducted in the country during the last 24 hours, of which 4,027 came back positive. The country’s positivity rate now stands at 7.8 per cent.

Statistics 16 Jan 22:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 51,236
Positive Cases: 4027
Positivity %: 7.8%
Deaths :9
Patients on Critical Care: 752

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) January 16, 2022

Meanwhile, nine more patients succumbed to the virus during the same period and the condition of 752 patients was stated to be critical.

A day earlier, Pakistan had reported 4,286 daily COVID-19 cases — the highest number of cases since August 25, 2021. The positivity ratio also shot up to 8.16%, the highest since August 11.

Meanwhile, federal health officials had said that they expected the situation in Karachi to change in the coming week as the positivity ratio might hit 50%, leading to an increase in hospitalisations. The officials had also said that cases were expected to shoot up to 6,000.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government decided to keep educational institutions across the province open amid a spike in Omicron cases, particularly in Karachi where the positivity rate has touched 35 per cent.

The decision was taken by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah during a meeting of the Coronavirus Task Force, said the spokesperson for the CM.

During the meeting, it was decided that classes in educational institutions would continue without any hiccup. It was also decided to strictly enforce SOPs across the province. According to the decision, wearing masks in public places was mandatory and the government has decided to impose fines, equivalent to one day of salary, on government officials for not wearing masks.