ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded more than 5,000 cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, as the situation worsens amid the fourth wave despite a lockdown imposed in various parts of the country.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 5,026 cases and 62 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The nationwide tally of cases has reached 1,034,837 while the death toll stands at 23,422.
The positivity ratio was surged to reach 8.82% as the number of cases rises. There are 3,208 people in critical condition in hospitals including 21 new patients in the previous day. Overall 941,659 people have recovered from the virus, including 1,495 in the past day.
There were 56,965 tests conducted in the previous day leading to the new cases. The number of active cases in the country has also increased to 69,756 amid the recent surge in cases.
Sindh has recorded the highest number of cases as province imposes a nine-day lockdown to bring down the situation. The province has recorded 382,865 cases and 6,001 deaths while the number of active ases has surged to 44,455.
Punjab has recorded 356,920 cases and 11,059 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province has reached 13,031. Islamabad has recorded 87,699 cases and 803 deaths while there are 3,695 active cases in the federal capital.
The number of cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 144.264 and 4,462 deaths while Balochistan has recorded 30,432 cases and 328 deaths. Gilgit Baltistan had recorded 8,156 cases and 144 deaths while Azad Kashmir has recorded 24,501 cases and 625 deaths.
Sindh eases lockdown
The Sindh government has imposed a lockdown till August 8 as the province continues to battle the dangerous surge in COVID-19 infections.
The Sindh Health Department enforced an emergency in all the government hospitals across the province. An official notification stated that the emergency has been enforced to deal with the increasing cases.
On Saturday, the Sindh government announced it has amended certain decisions made part of the lockdown orders issued a day earlier.
According to the amended order, the restriction of closing time for selected essential services by 6PM, will not be applicable to dairy, milk shops and bakery shops.
The restriction on pillion riding has been waived off. Small vehicles used to transport the public, such as taxis and rickshaws are allowed to operate within city limits. These vehicles will only be allowed to carry passengers in accordance with their prescribed capacity.
The restriction of not carrying more than two persons in private vehicles is waived off. However, the number of passengers in the said vehicles is restricted to the prescribed capacity of the vehicle.
