ISLAMABAD: The number of coronavirus cases spiked on Thursday as the nation reported 2,258 fresh infections amid the resurgence of a third wave.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan has recorded 53 more coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 13,377.
The number of active cases has increased to 17,628. In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,276 people have recovered from the virus in a day while 1,688 patients are still in critical condition.
The national tally of cases now currently stands at 597,497 with the inclusion of fresh cases and is set to cross the 600,000 mark this week. A total of 42,164 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 566,493 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 9,360,202 samples have been tested.
The government has re-imposed a number of restrictions that had been in force in the country with no let-up in the number of coronavirus cases.
The centre announced a two-week spring vacation in educational institutions in 10 cities from March 15 to March 28 whereas Balochistan and Sindh were suggested to limit attendance to 50 percent.
It decided to continue smart lockdowns and micro smart lockdowns and re-enforce 50 percent work from home policy and time limit of 10ON on all commercial activities with immediate effect. All amusement parks will be closed at 6PM and strict compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) will continue across the board.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said a number of relaxations had been withdrawn.
The minister said the cities where the new directives would be applicable were Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and Peshawar.
He said final examinations, which were underway or expected to take place later this month, including those of O and A levels, would go ahead as per schedule. He said in the remaining parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, half of the students would keep attending classes daily. He said the provincial governments would keep reviewing the situation and closure of schools would be necessary if the situation worsens.
