The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has been steadily increasing as the country reported more than 4,000 new infections for the second successive day on Saturday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data showed on Sunday morning.
According to the latest statistics of the NCOC, a total 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 percent.
Meanwhile, nine more people succumbed to the coronavirus during the past 24 hours 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 percent, the highest since August 11, when 52,522 tests were conducted across the country, according to the NCOC data.
The coronavirus positivity ratio in Karachi is about to touch 40 percent, as it reported 2,412 fresh cases overnight.
The new infections were detected after 6,124 diagnostic tests were conducted in the last 24 hours,
According to health department officials, Karachi’s positivity ratio jumped to 39.39 percent from 35 percent within the same duration.
SCHOOLS CLOSURE: Earlier, the NCOC reviewed the existing protocols and called on the health and education ministers to suggest a new set of guidelines amid the fifth wave of coronavirus that has worried the government.
The new set of SOPs will be put forth in a meeting on January 17, with its focus on schools and the education sector as a whole, public gatherings, marriage ceremonies, indoor/outdoor dining, and the transport sector, according to a statement issued today.
The development came during a session of the NCOC, which was held to review the coronavirus situation in the country as the positivity ratio went above 8 percent.
The forum discussed the epidemic curve chart data, disease prevalence, and proposed NPIs in wake of rising disease trends in the country, especially in the urban centres, it said.
Amid rising cases in the country due to the Omicron variant, the forum decided to extensively engage with provinces, especially with the Sindh government for necessary measures to tackle the rising coronavirus numbers.
